ATLANTA – State Representative Jay Neal (R-LaFayette), recently attended the Addiction Studies Program for the States in Washington, DC. This three-day conference, held from September 15-17, 2011, focused on the topic of reforming and integrating addiction treatment and primary care.
“Substance abuse continues to be a very real problem and the costs associated with substance abuse are far reaching,” said Rep. Neal. “We must do a better job offering individuals impacted by addiction the services they need to be productive, social members of society.”
At a time when state budgets are tight, the conference was designed to help state lawmakers make funding decisions by examining public policy solutions for treating substance abuse and addiction. The conference accomplished this by allowing Rep. Neal and other state legislators to learn about the latest information on substance use and abuse. While at the conference, Rep. Neal also examined information that will help him better make decisions about where and how the state should spend Georgians’ limited tax dollars to confront the statewide problem.
Rep. Neal took special interest in the national conference because of his career experience with substance abuse and addiction treatment and his proactive leadership of these issues at the Georgia State Capitol. Rep. Neal serves as Campus Director for Penfield Christian Homes, Inc., a six week residential treatment program. This real world experience in the field of addiction treatment allows Rep. Neal to bring a unique insight to these policy issues while serving in the General Assembly. Additionally, Rep. Neal has helped sponsor Addiction Recovery Awareness Day at the State Capitol for the past three years and is currently the Co-Chairman of the Georgia Behavioral Health Legislative Caucus.
“As we learn more about the effect substance abuse has on the brain, we are better equipped to provide treatment that leads to positive outcomes for addicts,” said Rep. Neal. “Addiction is a health care issue. Outcomes for patients with Substance Abuse related issues have very similar outcomes to those with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.”
The conference was sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, National Families in Action, and the Treatment Research Institute. For more information on the Addiction Studies Program for the States, please click here.
Representative Jay Neal represents the citizens of District 1, which includes portions of Catoosa and Walker counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and currently serves as the Chairman of the State Institutions & Property Committee. He also serves as a member of the Appropriations, Economic Development & Tourism, Insurance, and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees.
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