We fight this battle on a daily basis with courage, conviction and compassion, one client at a time. We witness the miracle of recovery and hold out the hand of hope to those we serve. We practice this art and science of addiction nursing in turbulent times. Resources are diminishing and funding is being cut. It is precisely at this point in time that our voices as addiction specialists need to be the loudest.
Chemical dependency is still a misunderstood, under-diagnosed, stigmatized disease.
We need to share our knowledge with others. Our government officials are elected to produce policies for the betterment of society, including health care policies. Their expertise, however, is in the political process, not clinical care. It is up to the specialists in the field to keep them abreast of the efficacy of proficient practice. It is thus imperative that we communicate with our legislative representatives concerning issues on addictions.