Appointment signals a new approach to politics of drug abuse

Appointment signals a new approach to politics of drug abuse -

The appointment of Michael Botticelli to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy symbolizes transition to treatment with the drug use as public health rather than a criminal justice issue, writes the Washington post. Reuters examines how opioid abuse fears keep cancer patients to get relief from pain

The Washington Post :. The White House is spending billions to fight against drugs, but drug use is increasing
The White House officially named Michael Botticelli on Thursday to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the office responsible supervise and administer the federal drug policy. The White House has been moving towards the treatment of drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice. The appointment of Botticelli, himself a recovering alcoholic, perhaps the most significant concrete sign of this change to date (Ingraham, 8/29)

Reuters :. The Addiction fears Keep Cancer Patients From Getting Pain Relief
Fears of opiate abuse and dependence could keep patients with advanced cancer to get pain medicine enough, say researchers. "At the end of life, we should feel comfortable providing everything needed to control the pain," said Joel Hyatt, assistant regional director at Kaiser Permanente (Belisomo, 8/29).

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This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser health News, an editorially independent news service, is a Kaiser Family Foundation program, a professional politician health research nonpartisan organization affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.