Now on NOW with Bill Moyer s "Who should pay for addiction recovery?"

[VeniceBeat]

Jim Ramstad, Repub. from Minn. discussing the bill he's supporting to force insurance co's to pay for drug and alcohol treatment for insured people. Great argument put forth - also discussed Rush's addiction and hoping the publicity will help the bill pass. }(

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n591/a07.html

'TRAFFIC'- NATION RETHINKS THE 'WAR ON DRUGS'

Hollywood, medical research and a group of new lawmakers seem to be combining to make official Washington rethink the nation's "War on Drugs."

For years, government has fought the war on illegal drugs with a steely focus on the supply: destroying crops, intercepting shipments, jailing smugglers, arresting dealers. And for years, Congress wasn't swayed by critics like Sen. Paul Wellstone ( D-Minn. ) and Rep. Jim Ramstad, who argued that equal effort be focused on demand -- including drug and alcohol treatment.

"Our priorities have been misplaced as a nation, when we're spending only 16% of our funding on treatment," argues Ramstad, a Republican from Minnesota, and himself a recovering alcoholic. "That's not working."

But in the past few months, treatment advocates are seeing the pendulum swing their way. New studies on addiction have revealed the social and economic costs. The Academy Award-winning movie "Traffic," along with popular TV shows like "The West Wing," are reaching a broad public and fueling new debate over how best to address the nation's drug problem.

[VeniceBeat]

1. BTW: Above posted by "Mrs. Venice Beat "aka "Madashell"

:mad:

[Wonk]

2. For those who missed it... mp3 and quicktime here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=549712#550749

mp3 is up already, quicktime will be up by tomorrow.

Check your local listings, it may not have aired yet or may air again in your market.
http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html