Klobuchar releases $100B substance abuse, mental health plan

[TexasTowelie]

CHICAGO (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar has released a plan to spend $100 billion over a decade to improve mental health care and fight substance abuse, an issue the Minnesota senator has faced firsthand as the daughter of an alcoholic who struggled with addiction for years before getting sober.

The wide-ranging plan, released Friday, includes funding for early intervention of mental health disorders and drug use, a national suicide prevention campaign, better access to opioid addiction and other types of treatment and recruitment of health care workers to underserved rural areas and cities with the highest need.

Klobuchar also says that as president she would prioritize mental health and substance abuse treatment over incarceration for nonviolent offenders, noting she supported drug courts as an alternative to jail when she was the lead prosecutor of Minnesota's largest county.

Klobuchar speaks often about her father's alcoholism and the impact it had on her life, and she says it's one of the issues she hears most about from people as she campaigns for the 2020 Democratic nomination in a crowded field of candidates . She says her father got "real treatment" after his third arrest for driving while intoxicated. He has remained sober with support from friends, family and his faith, what he calls being "pursued by grace," she says.

Read more: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/national/klobuchar-releases-b-substance-abuse-mental-health-plan/article_9a86c2ac-34be-5c1e-a0bf-fdf206749558.html

[lark]

1. I really like this proposal - it's so needed!

Go Amy and Democrats!

[Chin music]

2. Remember when Kavanaugh

made a reference to this in his confirmation hearing? I do. And I remember her hurt face, As if the guy ever had the stones himself to quit drinking amirite? I like the idea of our govt tending to our people. Almost a novel idea anymore, unless you're the 1%. We have great people in our party, there is NO denying it.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. She says she can work with pukes to pass bills

Welp, this is her chance to pass what's not a who-gives-a-hoot feel-good bill. I await the results.

[Politicub]

4. It's a start

It falls short on the adult mental health front, but targeting opioid addition and suicide are worthy objectives.

The article, though, makes it sound like mental illness is yoked to crime. Why have drug courts at all? Just stop treating addiction as a crime and recognize it as the public health crisis it is.

[Andy823]

5. K&R nt