Episode #76 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Congressman Patrick Kennedy on Mental Health and MarijuanaEpisode #76 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Congressman Patrick Kennedy on Mental Health and Marijuana
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
What's the overlap in mental health and marijuana? Congressman Patrick Kennedy notes that Addiction for Profit Industry in Preying on Vulnerable populations including children. Former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2017, he was appointed to the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.
1:01:32•6 Jun 2022
Patrick Kennedy Tackles Mental Health and Marijuana on High Truths
“Prevention is really left out of the equation. I usually use infectious disease or a blood transfusion analogy, like blood transfusion, is like treatment, but we need to plug the hole and prevent.”
Ever wondered how mental health and marijuana intersect? In this episode of 'High Truths on Drugs and Addiction', Dr. Roneet Lev sits down with former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy to unpack this complex topic. Kennedy, known for his advocacy in mental health and addiction, dives deep into the ways the Addiction for Profit Industry targets vulnerable populations, including children.
He also sheds light on the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which he authored, ensuring mental health treatments are covered as comprehensively as physical health treatments like diabetes or cancer. Kennedy shares his personal journey with addiction and bipolar disorder, offering a raw and honest perspective that many will find relatable. He emphasizes the importance of prevention over mere treatment, likening it to stopping an infectious disease at its source.
This episode doesn't just stop at individual experiences; it calls for broader state-level solutions and more robust insurance industry involvement in mental health care. Listeners will find Kennedy's call to action particularly stirring. He urges everyone to join the movement for change, advocating for higher medical standards in treating addiction and pushing for activism in mental health care.
Whether you're struggling with addiction, know someone who is, or are simply interested in the intricacies of mental health policy, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice. So, if you're ready to explore the overlap between mental health and marijuana and learn about the systemic changes needed to improve addiction treatment, tune in to this compelling conversation.
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