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-23)
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-23)
The WSMA supports medical and public health approaches to addressing an
individual’s substance use disorder (Res C-19, A-20)
Return to the WSMA Policy Compendium index
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