The purpose of this article is to educate and inform on issues that need to be reviewed by those creating policy for national emergency response efforts.  We must see that an appropriate response can emerge for any future disaster response efforts. 

Nation's number one public health problem- Really? I must disclose my personal feelings at present are still somewhat raw and in shock over the "lack of response" by all responders to the needs known and unknown to relief efforts for addiction treatment/recovery services. Alcohol dependence, and Drug Addiction appear to be "non-issues".  Reports of deaths due to a lack of detox services continues, yet another family member has called me in tears from a hotel room she fled upstate too after her family member faced police action when what he needed was a doctor trained to detox him safely.

Addiction a "Non Issue" -Mental Health not prepared for alcohol/addiction related issues....Requests to bring Recovery Literature and 12step support meetings started in the 1st day after Hurricane Katrina hit the state of Louisiana. 

More than 100,000 people taking shelter from the life threatening impact of our nations greatest natural disaster in Red Cross and other temporary shelters were surely inclusive of those recovering or in need of recovery support from our nations "number one public health problem", addiction.

No Plan equals poor planning:
Basic services for housing, feeding, medical care it appeared would include everything one could imagine, people flew in from everywhere to lend a hand.  Please do not read this without knowing how grateful Louisiana is for the help so many have selflessly given for so many in need, it has been unbelievable, the outpour for hurricane help.  The real question many are asking is how could these conditions be known, but ignored, why was there no plan to handle large numbers of people who are known to have challenges- poverty, incarceration, poor health, all have been known factors in Louisiana's landscape.  No plan to address a crisis of this magnitude is the most obvious problem.

There can be little question that those trained in emergency response could not possibly have expected the prevelance of alcohol/other drug abuse that has long been underreported but well known in Louisiana.  That is the only explanation for why basic human aid responses by the red cross and others may have a bare bones mental health plan, one that has proven to neglect alcoholics and addicts in this hurricane response.

The Red Cross clearly included many health and emotional support services in their aid, all it appears  except addiction recovery treatment/recovery services. 

In a time of total chaos, pain, loss, and grief for most all people living in South East Louisiana it became urgent that our outreach had to go beyond the local red tape to gain access to shelters housing evacuees and in need of recovery support (12 step meetings) and/or  medical detox and professional treatment services.

In total shock myself, that recovery support meetings had to be explained, a case had to be made to allow them in shelters I decided to do what I could to assist to open doors for both 12step meetings, and a proper response to needs of alcoholics/addicts in these shelters.   I wrote to Pat Taylor our friend directing the FAVOR project in DC, funded in part by the federal government, a possible avenue to work around the red tape.  Pat began writing and asking for assistance by SAMHSA in intervening to open doors in shelters for recovery support.  Finally we got a memo from red cross that directed the shelters to allow AA/NA into shelters to hold meetings.  That did provide some support, however our experience with the shelters as far as directing alcoholics/addicts in need of detox to appropriate and effective help did not prevail.  We were told that mental health experts were on hand, mental health does not exclude substance abuse, but also it did not include substance abuse credentials.  We experience the real problems facing real people.  I put flyers out in the shelters with a toll-free number we were able to set up, and the calls began, day and night.  We were able to with the help of NAATP to send almost 100 people to treatment facilities who were in many cases willing to even transport those they graciously accepted in this unmatched time of need.

Bill White, Pam Woll, Joe Powell, Mary Paul and many other friends networked our requests for sober housing, safe recovery communities for relocation, and primary treatment beds.