Albert Einstein once said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.”
In this role, I could study 24/7, 365 days a year, and not even tip the iceberg of information to consume on the vast number of issues involved in running a county government. From public health and public safety to all things roads and bridges, I have soaked up and sought out as much info as I could absorb.
As we’ve gone through our budgeting process these past three years, I’ve learned that maintaining our current systems cost taxpayers millions of dollars with less than favorable outcomes. For example, Sedgwick County taxpayers are currently paying $177,566,700 for Public Safety and $64,585,095 for Public Health. Yet, our jail is full, our people are overworked and grossly underpaid, and our system is so overloaded that wait times are too long for those who do seek help.
Now let me be clear about one thing before my message is misunderstood. I am not advocating to defund anything. I am not blaming anyone working in this system. But, most importantly, I DO NOT think it is entirely the county’s role to fix these systemic issues.
I am advocating we take a hard look at the money we are currently spending to see if we are making the most of these dollars. I am advocating for programs that produce better outcomes.
Our current systems are designed to keep people in the perpetual cycle of recidivism and reoffence. Can we shift our resources to programs and services that help people stay out of the system?
I’ll be the first to admit I still have a lot to learn regarding our current systems in place. And the only way to do that is to know these systems and the people who run them. I’m a firm believer that education is vital to success, especially when it comes to making decisions that impact so many people. But, most importantly, education is imperative when it comes to spending tax dollars.
That’s why I took the time to attend a three-day intense conference on Addiction over a weekend because, as our Sheriff has said over and over 70% of the people in the Sedgwick County jail right now have a substance use disorder.
Substance misuse can touch any one of us. It has no boundaries, and if you run through your list of friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers, can you think of someone who may have suffered or is suffering? If I had to guess, I’d say the answer is yes.
Addiction is a symptom of something much more profound. Frequently, trauma, in some form or fashion, plays a huge role, but other times those who suffer may have a genetic predisposition. As a matter of fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) states that “at least half of a person's susceptibility to drug or alcohol addiction can be linked to genetic factors.”
The National Conference on Addiction Disorders was a grueling three-day discovery for me, and even though I came home exhausted and mentally drained, it was well worth my time.
This past weekend, I attended 16 sessions, learning some of what I just shared and a whole lot more!
The sessions I attended were:
- New science and addiction recovery
- The power of connection in substance-abuse recovery
- Ethics, supervision, and organizational health
- Leveraging data to improve addiction treatment quality
- The latest in reimbursement policy
- Enhancing organizational cultures
- Psychedelic therapies and addiction treatment
- The ethics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and justice healing
- Federal policy updates and what’s on the horizon
- The social determinants of behavioral health
- Suicide and organizational resilience
- Residential treatment and reimbursement rates
- Intersections of public health and public safety from the perspective of the courts
- Trauma-informed care for LGBTQIA+
- History and epidemiology of opioids in treating pain
- Vance Johnson, a former Denver Broncos player, shared his story of recovering and giving back
The biggest takeaway stated in almost all of these sessions was the need for a SYSTEM-WIDE CHANGE to treat people who suffer from addiction.
- We need to stop criminalizing addiction.
- We need to add more problem-solving courts.
- We need to expand healthcare coverage that intercepts substance abuse before it progresses to addiction.
- We need broader prevention services, early treatment, and greater physician-based care.
- We need broader coverage and reimbursement options for substance abuse treatment.
- We need to make it ok for people to get help.
The list can go on and on, but this is getting long, and I’m sure I’m starting to sound like a broken record, so for that, I say, please get used to it because the economic impacts of addiction alone should have us all concerned. According to Recovery Centers of America’s Economic Cost of Substance Abuse in the United States, a study conducted in 2016, “Drug and alcohol use in the United States costs $1.45 trillion in economic loss and societal harm annually. This includes $578 billion in economic loss and $874 billion in societal harm through quality of life adjustment and premature loss of life.” Find the entire online report here -> https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/economic-cost-substance-abuse/
In closing, I am forever grateful to have this opportunity to share my voice to raise awareness about this pressing issue in our society. I’m not going to stop working for system-wide change regarding criminal justice, mental health, and substance misuse.
I can’t reiterate enough how many people are working on this in our community and have been for a very long time. I am simply joining the battle that has been going on long before I entered this realm. I want to thank all those who are doing this work day in and day out. It is not easy and very taxing on a person's soul, but I fully understand why people do it, and I’m happy to use my voice for the voiceless. I will continue to help those who suffer because I, too, struggle when it comes to having a healthy relationship with alcohol.
Like many of us, I’m a work in progress but will not shy away from sharing the real things that drive me to do what I do.
As always, I’m here to answer your questions or concerns. My door is always open. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction or have mental health concerns, please don’t hesitate to get help. You can feel comfortable reaching out to me for the appropriate number should you or a loved one find that the moment of hope has arrived.
