Joe Biden on Substance Use Treatment Access

Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates referred to Biden’s work on the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, “the single biggest step ever taken to address the opioid epidemic and the backbone of addiction treatment in America.”

“Expand federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services and research. People experiencing mental health and substance use disorders should have access to affordable quality care long before their situations escalate and they interact with the criminal justice system. …Expand health insurance coverage so more Americans have access to treatment, …(and) double the number of … health professional in our schools so our kids get the mental health care they need.”
The Biden Plan for Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice
Joe Biden campaign website | 2019

“Get people who should be supported with social services – instead of in our prisons – connected to the help they need. …partner mental health and substance use disorder experts, social workers and disability advocates with police departments…these service providers will respond to calls with police officers so individuals who should not be in the criminal justice system are diverted to treatment for addiction or mental health problems, or provided social services they may need.”
The Biden Plan for Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice
Joe Biden campaign website | 2019

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