More than 200 people in the Utah recovery community gathered to rally for addiction treatment. Residents in the Salt Lake City, UT area came together at the state capitol to support legislation that would help the community gain more access to substance use disorder and mental health treatment. The legislation would also cover affordable health care for Utah residents.
Those that were in attendance of the rally were in recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or were close relatives/friends of someone who struggled with the disease of addiction.
The rally was put together by the Utah branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness. Together they gathered to show their support for Governor Gary Herbert’s alternative to Medicaid expansion called Healthy Utah. Those that attended the rally also wanted to show their support for HB348, “a criminal justice reform bill that would facilitate better treatment for offenders who struggle with drug addiction and mental illness, as well as make drug possession a misdemeanor,” according to an article published in KSL.com.
Mindy Vincent, a woman in attendance at the rally, experienced the effects of drug addiction first hand with the death of her sister who was struggling with a co-occurring disorder. Vincent’s sister was diagnosed with mental illness and drug addiction. She detailed the story of how her sister lost her job and was unable to qualify for Medicaid which prevented her from getting the treatment that she needed.
“My sister deserved to recover, and my sister was capable of recovering. When she needed help the most, she couldn’t get it, and I believe the system failed her,” Vincent. The woman expressed that healthcare should be a right that everyone should have access to.
Sponsor of HB348, Representative Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, told the supporters that, “The only reason [HB348] is working is because you guys prove that if we give you a chance, and give you the resources, we can change lives.”
This rally is demonstrative of some of the many barriers in access to treatment that men and women face daily across the country. At New Directions for Women, we have set up a scholarship fund so that we can award women with the gift of lifelong sobriety. The Pamela Wilder Scholarship fund was set up so that we can continue to financially support the treatment that we provide. Every woman and child that walks through our doors receives some amount of scholarship funds so that they can achieve sustainable, responsible recovery. If you would like to give to our scholarship fund so that we can continue to serve more women and children please visit: https://www.newdirectionsforwomen.org/foundation/give-now/
New Directions for Women is a treatment facility located in California that offers help to women of all ages, pregnant women in any trimester, and women with children. Founded in 1977, our courageous and visionary founders asked for the help of Newport Beach Junior League members to fulfill their vision of a tranquil home-like facility that would treat women with dignity and respect. Our caring admissions counselors are available 24/7 to take your call and answer any questions you may have on getting help. Reach us by phone at 800-93-WOMEN. We can help. Stay in the loop with New Directions for Women by connecting with us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
