Why can drug addicts just go straight to a local treatment center for help?
Dr. Madras: Only a small percentage of addicts willingly seek treatment on their own. The vast majority do not seek treatment because they don’t think they have a problem. They are unaware, in denial or ambivalent about seeking help. These procedural codes will make it possible for a healthcare professional to uncover the extent of an addict’s problem and steer them into appropriate treatment. It’s important to recognize that the procedures cast a much broader net, and are effective in reducing problem substance use, as well as “collateral damage” associated with drug intoxication and impairment.
