Letter: Medicaid pays for addiction treatment

As others in Tucson have seen, the problem of drug use and addiction has exploded in the past few years. Addressing the issue of supply is important but demand will still be there if it is not addressed through the treatment of addiction. Medicaid is the largest single payer for behavioral health services including addiction treatment in the United States. They cover detox programs, in-patient treatment and outpatient programs. If the Republican-controlled House passes their cruel bill to defund Medicaid or restrict its use for addiction treatment programs, the issues associated with addiction will explode - homelessness, crime and lives lost to this horrible disease. Addiction touches so many lives in America, regardless of social status, education and financial circumstances. Any progress that's been made to address this national tragedy will be lost if Medicaid is defunded. Contact your representative and insist that they do not defund Medicaid.