On August 8, President Trump spoke to the opioid crisis in this country and declined to declare a national emergency as recommended by the “President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.” Instead, the President emphasized the law and order aspects of the problem and the importance of preventing drug use in the first place since addiction is so hard to overcome.
The Commission will make a final report in the fall. The recently released interim report makes eight major recommendations related to expanding treatment, staunching the flow of drugs, enforcing the mental health parity and addiction equity act, among others. It also called for a full review of federal funding and programs and obstacles and opportunities for treatment. Significantly, the interim report indicated that the final report will examine other issues that will include one directly related to trauma and ACEs—here’s the text:
Evidence-based prevention programs for schools, and tools for teachers and parents to enhance youth knowledge of the dangers of drug use, as well as early intervention strategies for children with environmental and individual risk factors (trauma, foster care, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and developmental disorders).
The Campaign for Trauma Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) has submitted its recent paper (attached) to the Commission that summarizes the research showing the powerful correlation between opioid addiction and ACEs. In his communication to the Commission, Dan Press, who headed the CTIPP work group that developed the paper, said: “An important component of any opioid strategy must include programs to prevent childhood trauma or ACEs in the future. In addition, programs to treat persons presently addicted must understand that many of the people they are treating are taking opioids as a way to deal with their childhood trauma and therefore must be provided treatment that helps them overcome their trauma.”
Press also noted that a member of the Commission, Patrick Kennedy, a former congressman from Rhode Island and head of the Kennedy Forum, is “well versed in the importance of addressing ACEs and programs that have done so successfully.” ACEsTooHigh has covered Kennedy's personal story of substance dependence and trauma. CTIPP is currently developing additional policy recommendations in light of the ongoing opioid crisis.
For additional information on the Commission, including a video of the first meeting (also see the attached description of that meeting prepared for the National Council on Behavioral Health), and other information, click here.
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