Obama And Macklemore Team Up To Raise Awareness And Fight Against Drug Addiction [Watch]

Credit: The Fix
Credit: The Fix

Macklemore joined President Obama last week during his weekly address to raise awareness about drug addiction, something the Grammy Award-winning rapper has struggled with in the past.

The Seattle native has been open about his drug and alcohol addiction and included the topic often in his tracks, making his struggle more relatable to others in the same situation and inspiring many to make a change in their life.

Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has been attempting to increase access to treatment for drug addicts and even stated that while the bills passed by the House of Representatives last week are a step in the right direction, it simply is not enough.

When speaking of what the goal is for fighting to raise awareness and support treatment for patients, Obama said:

“Just talking about this crisis isn’t enough, we need to get treatment to more people who need it. My Administration’s working with communities to reduce overdose deaths, including with medication. We’re working with law enforcement to help people get into treatment instead of jail. Under ObamaCare, health plans in the marketplace have to include coverage for treatment.”

The president pointed out that over the last decade, drug abuse and overdoses have increased at an alarming rate, making it a problem that needs to be addressed.

“Drug overdoses now take more lives every year than traffic accidents.”

Macklemore spoke briefly about his own struggle in the Weekly Address and explained that the resources he had are what saved his life:

“I abused prescription drugs and I have battled addiction. If I hadn’t gotten the help that I needed when I needed it, I definitely would not be here today, and I want to help others facing the same challenges that I did.”

Sadly, his friend did not seek help when he needed it and died of a drug overdose when he was just 21 years old. The led the hip hop star to remind viewers that:

“Addiction is like any other disease — it doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care what color you are, whether you’re a guy or a girl, rich or poor, whether you live in the inner city, a suburb, or rural America. This doesn’t just happen to other people’s kids or in some other neighborhood. It can happen to any of us.”

The pair asked people to do their part to raise awareness and ask their representatives to support bills in favor of expanding treatment and making investments to help more people. Macklemore’s presence both provided Obama’s cause with substance, as the rapper will always live with his addiction, and sent a powerful message to those who look up to him to effect change and be cautious of drug use.

Watch the video below to see the two address drug addiction and overdose.

What do you think of Macklemore’s appearance and the message he and Obama had for viewers? Please comment on, like, and share this article!


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