| Addiction treatment options aren't embraced by the public because treating addiction is seen as indulging in weakness rather than "curing" addiction | - The data shows that we could save many lives by expanding[medication-assisted treatments](https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/20/15937896/medication-assisted-treatment-methadone-buprenorphine-naltrexone)and adopting harm reduction policies like[needle exchange programs](https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hst/hi5/cleansyringes/index.html).<br>-Methadone and buprenorphine, the most effective medication-assisted treatments, are[“crutches,”](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Methadone-Judge-Rule-Father-Blame-Lepolszki-Son-Overdose-Heroin-Addict-Ruling-I-Team-Investigation-273213211.html)in the words of felony treatment court judge Frank Gulotta Jr.; they are[“just substituting one opioid for another,”](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/11/15613258/tom-price-opioid-epidemic)according to former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price | [link](https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/3/5/17080470/addiction-opioids-moral-blame-choices-medication-crutches-philosophy#:~:text=The%20data%20shows,than%20%E2%80%9Ccuring%E2%80%9D%20it) |
| - People view addiction as a moral failure | - Most of us have been trained to use more forgiving language when talking about addiction. We call it a disease. We say that people with addiction should be helped, not blamed. But deep down, many of us still have trouble avoiding the thought that they could stop using if they just tried harder. | |
