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In Case You Haven't Heard…
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alcoholism and drug abuse weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7591
pISSN - 1042-1394
DOI - 10.1002/adaw.32777
Subject(s) - repeal , presidential system , medicaid , business , accountability , health care , public administration , criminal justice , political science , law , politics
Democrat presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden has released a plan to deal with the opioid crisis, but he notes in the introduction that the “challenge of substance use disorders is not limited to opioids.” His plan is to provide high‐quality health care to all Americans, continuing the essential benefits of the Affordable Care Act (which he unabashedly calls Obamacare) and expanding Medicaid. His opponent, President Trump, wants to repeal Obamacare, including Medicaid expansion. In addition, Biden would add $125 billion for prevention, treatment and recovery services; reform the criminal justice system so that no one is incarcerated for drug use; and demand accountability from pharmaceutical companies. He would make medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) available on a universal access basis by 2025, provide $20 billion in grants to expand MAT, remove restrictions on prescribing medications to treat opioid use disorder and more. So why do his detractors on the left keep harping on his marijuana policies of old? We don't know. Maybe they think President Trump's policies are better?