FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 21, 2021

CONTACT

Neil Sroka, neil@paidleave.us, 847-219-8491 

Leading Addiction Treatment and Recovery Organizations Urge Congress to Pass National Paid Leave

Groups say national paid leave would remove a critical barrier to treatment for 20 million Americans with substance use disorders 

This morning, 25 leading organizations fighting the addiction public health crisis sent members of Congress a letter urging the passage of the national paid leave program currently under consideration in the Build Back Better legislative package.    

“While nearly 20 million Americans are negatively affected by substance use and addiction, only 10% of them seek treatment. We must remove the roadblocks to recovery, and paid leave is a critical step. Lawmakers who have claimed to prioritize addressing the opioid and addiction public health crisis should step up to support national paid leave, making it easier on people to access treatment,” the letter states. 

The organizations signing the letter, including the National Association for Addiction Treatment Providers, The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers, came together to show the impact of national paid leave would have on people seeking recovery.   

“A national paid leave program would remove a key barrier for people seeking treatment for addiction. Paid leave would be a game-changer for millions of Americans with substance use disorders and the loved ones who care for them,” said Marvin Ventrell, the CEO of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Professionals. “We urge Congress to move forward with national paid leave as a critical step in addressing our nation’s addiction public health crisis.” 

The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world with no national paid leave policy, and 93% of low-wage working people have no paid leave. As a result, over 100 million Americans currently have to make the impossible choice between a paycheck and critical medical interventions, including treatment for substance use disorders. 

“Many working people, especially with low incomes, cannot access substance use disorder treatment simply because it requires time off from work. By providing paid leave, we alleviate stress and worry over missed paychecks and allow individuals to access the care they need to support recovery and their mental and physical health,” said Sarah Christa Butts, director of public policy, National Association of Social Workers. “We can improve outcomes and save lives by providing paid leave to individuals who are in need of substance use disorder treatment and other behavioral health services.” 

This call for action comes just as Congress is debating the contents of the upcoming budget reconciliation package -- which currently includes 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave as a direct benefit to workers, paid for by the federal government at no cost to employers. The paid medical leave in this proposal would include time away from work to treat substance use disorders.  

West Virginia organizations were notable among the letter’s signers, including TEAM for WV Children, Community Connections, and the West Virginia chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. West Virginia leads the country in opioid prescriptions per person at 19:1 and has the highest rate of opioid deaths in the nation.  

The opioid epidemic has been a high-priority issue for Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). In a recent statement on Twitter, he shared, “Last year alone, we lost 1,373 West Virginians to drug-related overdoses. It’s our responsibility to provide our family, friends, and neighbors with the support and recovery services they need and deserve.” 

“Lawmakers who have called for action to address the opioid and addiction crisis should step up to support national paid leave, making it easier for people to access treatment,” added Greg Puckett, Executive Director of Community Connections, a West Virginia non-profit. “Let’s start by passing national paid leave, so West Virginians who are ready to seek care can begin their recovery journeys now.”

The complete list of addiction treatment and recovery organizations signing the letter to Congress in support of national paid leave include:

  • National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers

  • NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals

  • American Psychiatric Association

  • National Association of Social Workers

  • National Perinatal Association

  • National Advocates for Pregnant Women

  • Academy of Perinatal Harm Reduction

  • Behavioral Health Group

  • Young People in Recovery

  • Faith in Public Life

  • The McShin Foundation

  • TEAM for WV Children / Prevent Child Abuse WV

  • National Association of Social Workers - West Virginia Chapter

  • River Valley Organizing

  • First United Methodist Oak Ridge (Recovery Ministry) 

  • West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

  • Community Connections

  • Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA of Virginia)

  • Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region (New Hampshire)

  • Kohnlinq, Inc.

  • youturn

  • Personal Remedies, LLC

  • WellBrain

  • PSYCHeANALYTICS, Inc.

  • Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

  • Goldfinch Health

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About PL+US 

PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) is the national campaign to win paid family and medical leave for every working person in the US. PL+US has helped win paid family leave for nearly 8 million people through our transformative workplace campaigns at companies like Walmart, Starbucks, CVS, and more in partnership with employees, employers, consumers, and investors. Learn more at: http://paidleave.us/