Phoenix, AZ, Aug. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Addiction Policy Forum, a leading addiction nonprofit, has expanded its Addiction Resource Center (ARC) to include a database of treatment resources, facilities, and healthcare providers specific to Arizona residents. The Addiction Resource Center (ARC) offers two ways to find lifesaving help; an online portal and confidential phone line.
“According to the CDC, an estimated 1,573 Arizonans died from drug overdose in 2017. With resources added to the ARC database to help connect Arizona residents to local substance use disorder services, we hope to see these numbers decrease as more patients and families access the help they need,” said Jessica Hulsey Nickel, Addiction Policy Forum President and CEO.
The ARC includes a comprehensive, interactive website to help individuals and families struggling with addiction learn about substance use disorders and access critical resources. This platform dispels harmful myths about addiction by presenting the science behind the disease in easy-to-read formats, guiding concerned individuals through a self-assessment tool, helping to develop a proposed action plan and providing a database of local treatment providers.
The ARC also includes a resource line staffed by addiction counselors, licensed social workers, and peer recovery support advocates that provide callers with substance use disorder-related information, education on treatment options, and support. Arizona residents can call the line at 1-833-301-HELP (4357), Monday through Friday from 6AM to 3PM MST.
“I have personally experienced the impact substance use and addiction has on individuals and families,” said Kelly Maurer, co-chair of APF’s Arizona State Chapter. "I have discovered when I tell my story, I find that almost everyone has had a family member or friend who has been seriously impacted or afflicted with this horrific disease. I’m excited to share the easily accessible, localized support ARC provides to residents of Arizona to help bring an end to this crisis.”
“Those struggling with substance use and addiction in the state of Arizona will now be able to find vetted, unbiased addiction resources located in their county,” says co-chair of APF’s Arizona State Chapter, Dawn Scanlon. “This treatment provider database is meant to serve as a starting point for those seeking help and guidance during crisis.”
Addiction Policy Forum, which has chapters in 30 states and a national office in Washington, D.C., plans to continue adding state-specific resources to its database throughout 2018. In addition to addressing addiction through community resources, APF is committed to affecting policy change at the local, state and national levels and raising awareness of the nationwide addiction crisis.
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About Addiction Policy Forum
Addiction Policy Forum is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2015 as a diverse partnership of organizations, policymakers and stakeholders committed to working together to elevate awareness around addiction, and to improve programs and policy through a comprehensive response that includes prevention, treatment, recovery and criminal justice reform. Jessica Hulsey Nickel, whose own family was devastated by addiction, is the founder of a coalition of 1,700 families impacted by substance use disorders and is available for further explanation and interviews by media.
More information on our mission and projects is available at http://addictionpolicy.org.