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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 23, 2018 04:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kerry A. Benninghoff |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Requiring Counseling along with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Addiction |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation requiring counseling for every patient receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for addiction, such as Vivitrol, Suboxone, and Methadone. As Policy Chairman, I held nearly a dozen statewide hearings on Pennsylvania’s heroin and opioid epidemic. Testimony at those hearings was indisputably unified on the importance of giving patients access to a complete continuum of care through medication and counseling, and in doing so, ending the outdated and ineffective “cash-for-prescription” and “prescription-only” mentalities for treating addiction. Providing counseling, or clinical services, in conjunction with MAT is imperative for sustained, long-term recovery. Simply replacing one drug with another does not treat the “whole person,” nor does it change patterns of troubling and risky behavior. If we want those in treatment to have the best chance, we must provide them with more than medication. We must also provide them with the tools necessary to rebuild their mental and emotional wellbeing, establish healthy relationships and maintain progress in recovery. Specifically, my legislation will direct the Departments of Health, Human Services and Drug and Alcohol Programs work together to establish solid guidelines for the use of MAT of all kinds, of which counseling must be a component. Please consider joining me in cosponsorship of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2130