We all know someone who is either living with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or know someone who is dealing with the impact of a loved one, friend, or neighbor who suffers from addiction. Did you know that nearly two-thirds of adults know someone who suffers from addiction? In Virginia, SUD has hit our communities particularly hard. In late 2016, Governor McAuliffe declared a public health emergency in response to the growing crisis. I personally have had a very close friend and a close relative whom have battled with SUD. I have seen friends and family members suffer from SUD and the stigma that comes with it. And in addition to empathy, one of my biggest takeaways from watching people in my life live with SUD is that it takes a community and compassion to heal them. No matter why someone in your family, community, or network develops SUD, they are deserving of your support because it is up to all of us to act on addiction.
Earlier this month, Inova launched the Act on Addiction campaign with the help of a generous gift from Joan and Russell Hitt. The goal of the campaign is to help fuel awareness, combat stigma and provide informational resources for those suffering from SUD, and their loved ones, right here in Northern Virginia. This campaign comes at a particularly important time for our local community. A recent survey conducted by the campaign in our Northern Virginia area found that 65 percent of all adults, including more than 70 percent of millennials, say they know someone who struggles with addiction.
SUD is a growing public health crisis that impacts millions of Americans across all demographics. Addiction doesn’t care about your age, race or gender because like all mental health disorders, SUD doesn’t discriminate; however, we do. One barrier to seeking treatment that people with SUD face is fear of stigmatization because of their disorder. The campaign survey also found that while 68 percent of adults believe addiction is a disease, more than a quarter say that addiction is a choice. In addition to rallying resources and raising public awareness we also need to cultivate compassion and understanding for our fellow Virginians who are suffering from SUD.
Yes, raising awareness for SUD is needed, but in order to eradicate it, we all have to ACT on addiction! I am proud to partner with the Act on Addiction campaign and invite all of you to take a stand and act on addiction by attending INOVA’s and Act on Addiction Now’s summit on October 5th to learn more about this pressing public health crisis.
If you or someone you know are one of the 20 million Americans who suffer from SUD, there is hope with treatment, and you shouldn’t let fear or stigma hold you back from fighting addiction. For more information, visit https://actonaddictionnow.org
{This is a sponsored post courtesy of INOVA.}
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