HBO has a new series Addiction. I watched the 'centerpiece documentary' last night. It is moving, sad and most of all frustrating, So many advances are being made every day in terms of what we know about addiction (it's a disease, a very difficult disease to treat) and treatment (a mix of medications, therapy, etc.), and we are not utilizing most of the advances we have made because we are allowing the HMOs to dictate what kind of treatment, the length of the treatment. If you need more and better (and effective) treatment, you better hope you or your family have very deep pockets.

My friend's son has just completed treatment, at vast expense, in Canada. The facility he was at requires that patients stay a minimum of 3 months and then participate for some time in follow-up treatment. That is not the case in the United States where patients are turned out sometimes after only a week. There are no guarantees, of course, but his chances of staying sober are infinitely better than if he had received his treatment in the United States.

This is a tragic disease that drags down whole families. We need a war on drugs that begins with treatment - real, effective treatment for everyone. The cost would be negligible when compared against the cost that is being borne by hospital emergency rooms, prisons, victims of crime.

I have a theory that I don't think anyone I know has bought yet but if those of us with health insurance get depressed or anxious, we go to our doctor and get legal prescriptions. Those of us without insurance also get depressed or anxious and the only way of feeling better is to take illegal street drugs. Is there a difference in need? There is definitely a difference in effect and in cost and in acceptance.

I urge you to watch the series. Begin with Addiction and then move to the individual stories about real people who get caught up in addiction and can't find a way out. Real people that look and sound just like our kids. Real people with families that are torn apart watching their family member spiral out of control with no effective way to stop it from happening.

The piece of information that really resonated with me last night - there is no need for someone to hit bottom before they can be helped. Getting help early is a much better option. And it definitely might have to be more than once. Addiction is a demon that hangs on for dear life.

Check out the schedule.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive