A group of three mothers from Rochester and Batavia who have seen their children become addicted to pain pills and heroin are banding together to push for more inpatient treatment.
The women say the insurance industry is too often refusing to pay for the treatment on grounds that addiction is a behavior problem and not a disease.
"We need to stop treating it like it is a crime or a stigma - it is a disease," said Kathy, a mother from Batavia with a daughter, 21, now trying to break her addiction to heroin.
All three mothers are working with Avi Israel and "Save the Michaels of the World" to organize a town hall meeting on the problem.
It is scheduled for May 17th at Genesee Community College at 6:30 p.m.
People who had problems with insurance companies in getting approval for inpatient treatment for addiction are strongly encouraged to attend as officials from law enforcement and the NYS Attorney General's Office will be attending.
Watch Ed Reilly's story for to hear more.
