Office of National Drug Control Policy Needs New Drug Czar

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The Trump Administration recently employed 24-year-old Taylor Weyeneth to be the deputy chief of staff (also known as the drug czar) of the Office of National Drug Control Policy or ONDCP. While many addiction advocates were hoping the Administration would be filled by an experienced professional, the appointment of Mr. Weyeneth proved to be profoundly flawed.

Before Mr. Weyeneth’s work for the Trump administration, there were only two jobs from which he gleaned experience the only position he’d held since graduating from college in 2016. One of these tasks was working on President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, the Washington Post reported earlier this month. Aside from his young age, and lack of experience in the field of mental health or addiction, this young man’s lack of knowledge also spilled into the jobs he listed on his resume. Included in the resume was a post he held at a law firm, …

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Wet Houses – Giving up on Problem Drinkers

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Today the Addiction Reporter discusses “wet houses” which highlight a disturbing reality of alcoholism: it is a fatal disease for many who are unable to recovery.

The “wet house” is a new approach that some states are adopting to deal with long-term problem drinkers.  Alcoholics are given shelter and basic services, but instead of entering a treatment program they are allowed to keep drinking.  They are essentially being warehoused until they die from acute alcoholism.

This controversial approach has been tried in Seattle, Washington and throughout the state of Minnesota.  The wet house approach saves these states money, costing about $13,000 to $18,000 per resident for annual support compared to the higher cost of housing chronic alcoholics in jail, hospitals or county detox centers.…

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