Liverpool MP Dan Carden has met with officials from US President Joe Biden's office as he continues his fight to raise awareness of addiction recovery.
Mr Carden was the first Member of Parliament to speak openly about being in recovery from alcoholism in July 2021. Since then, he has established AA meetings at the Houses of Parliament and campaigned extensively on addiction treatment and recovery related issues.
As part of his campaign for recovery, the Walton MP recently visited Washington D.C for meetings with members of the Biden Administration and a number of senior White House advisers to learn about steps the US government is taking to help those dealing with addiction.
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Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs and Mental Health (covering substance use issues) Terri Tanielian invited Mr Carden to join a roundtable of White House advisors at the Eisenhower Executive Office at the White House Complex on February 15.
The meeting included Special Assistant to the President for Health Care Coverage Jessica Schubel and White House Policy Analyst for Health Naba Hussein. During his visit to Washington, Mr Carden also met Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Paolo del Vecchio, Director of the Office of Recovery."
Mr Carden said: “In response to the increasing number of suicide and drug related deaths, the Biden administration has prioritised mental health and addiction treatment with more funding and innovative new policies.
“For instance, the new suicide and crisis helpline 988 has had a twenty-fold boost in it resources. It is a service that means those experiencing a mental health crisis get the most appropriate response as well as relieving pressure from the police or other health services that are often ill-equipped to deal with such demands."
"They have also established a new Office of Recovery to represent the interests of people in recovery from substance use and mental health conditions and ensure recovery communities are thriving”.
“The Office of Recovery, established in 2021, forges partnerships to support people, families and communities impacted by mental health or substance use conditions to pursue recovery, be resilient and achieve wellness.
“I was impressed by the determination of President Biden’s team to take action to reverse soaring alcohol and drug related deaths and the growing harm caused by substance addiction.
“Both our countries face a worsening picture of more people dying each year, rising harm and increasing costs to health services and the economy.
“We had an in-depth exchange on the common challenges and potential for meaningful change led by government.
“President Biden’s team are ambitious to do more, to challenge vested interests and ensure an appropriate health response in order to begin to tackle the epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction across the United States. “There is no silver bullet to solving these issues. However, I am buoyed to have been so warmly welcomed in these important discussions.”
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