We believe that the first step to increasing treatment is to get consumers, family members, and key leaders to take steps to drive up demand. As we have seen in numerous examples in society, when demand goes up, increased supply follows. The project builds on Join Together's experiences working with communities and using the Internet to support community leaders and consumers.
Interested parties can participate in one or more of the program elements.
The conferences provided participants with information, contacts and resources they can use to increase the number of people who receive brief interventions and quality treatment. Improve access to and expand the local specialized alcohol and drug treatment system through the implementation of evidence-based standards of care such as the Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Identify and take steps to remove discriminatory barriers to treatment. Additional web-based information and tools will be developed to help employers, healthcare professionals, providers and other community institutions implement more effective alcohol and drug treatment policies and practices. Nearly half of Americans report knowing someone with a substance abuse problem.