LEGAL ACTION CENTER

National Advocacy

About LAC's National Advocacy

Through our Washington, D.C. office, LAC advocates with Congress, and the Administration to improve our federal laws and policies in order to end discrimination against people in recovery or still suffering from addiction; expand funding for life-saving alcohol and drug treatment, prevention, and recovery services and research; and protect privacy of treatment records and information.

The Work

The Legal Action Center has two primary areas of focus. First, LAC seeks to expand and improve addiction services nationwide. This includes ensuring that equitable and adequate alcohol and drug treatment and recovery support are an integral part of the health care system, including in national and state health care reform initiatives.

Click here for more information on LAC's work to expand and improve addiction treatment services nationwide.

Click here for LAC's page on National Healthcare Reform.

Second, LAC works to end discrimination against people with an addiction or criminal record history. This includes requiring parity insurance coverage so that everyone who is addicted can receive the care they need. For people with a criminal record history, LAC has worked to remove many of the barriers they face, including in employment, housing, and public assistance.

Click here for more information on ending discrimination.

Expanding & Improving Addiction Treatment Services	Ending Discrimination
Expanding funding for drug and alcohol treatment, prevention and research	Expand funding for programs serving people with criminal records
Recommendations for comprehensive healthcare reform	Reentry legislation, including the Second Chance Act
Expanding coverage of addiction treatment through the Medicaid program	Repealing the ban on student loans for people with drug convictions
"Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act"	Housing opportunities for qualified individuals with criminal records
Ending discrimination for people in recovery from addiction	Drug law sentencing reform
TANF/Welfare coverage for people with addiction histories	Providing higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals
Protecting confidentiality	Juvenile justice
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Reauthorization (SAMHSA) process	Employing individuals with criminal records through the National H.I.R.E. Network

Partners

The Legal Action Center is partners with the State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS), the leading association of drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs in the nation. Click here to learn more about SAAS.