AHCA hurts fighting substance abuse

Dear Editor,

There has been plenty of discussion in public about the dangers repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with the American Health Care Act will have on people with pre-existing conditions.

But the dangers of the AHCA goes even deeper into the health care issues that are so often forgotten about — substance abuse.

Under the ACA (Obamacare) our country was beginning to take seriously the idea that substance abuse was a medical and mental health condition that is in need of treatment. Indeed, as we’ve seen the populations of our prisons rise due to substance abuse, it was high time changes be made.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, the percentage of people with substance abuse issues or mental health disorders hospitalized but uninsured fell dramatically. According to the report, the percentage fell from 20 percent in 2013 to just 5 percent by mid-2015.

We know Montanans struggle tremendously with substance abuse issues as well as mental health disorders. Methamphetamines and opioid abuse are ravaging our communities. Early intervention is the key to not only treating the illnesses, but preventing further systemic issues in our communities — crime, poverty and lack of education.

We can and must do better than this.

Sincerely,

Susie Schend

Havre