Treatment

The WSMA endorses court-supervised drug treatment with preservation of physician-patient confidentiality in lieu of incarceration for persons in need of such treatment arrested solely for the use of controlled substances. (Res A-1, A-01) (Reaffirmed A-17)

The WSMA endorses the three central recommendations of the Drug Addiction Treatment Task Force's drug treatment plan: 1) drug addiction treatment should be available to every Washington resident who needs it; 2) drug treatment should be complemented by other needed treatment and assistance, including mental health treatment; and, 3) special efforts should be made to assure that drug treatment, including inpatient treatment, is promptly available to children who need it. (Res A-2, A-01) (Reaffirmed A-17)

The WSMA supports medical and public health approaches to addressing an individual’s substance use disorder. (Res C-19, A-20)

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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:

EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health Services