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Balancing Accountability and Advocacy in Addiction Treatment
- Jeffrey Lynne
- Dec 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Addiction treatment saves lives every day across the country. It helps patients and families find their way back to wellness and offers a path toward recovery from a chronic, relapsing disease. Still, no system is perfect. There are indeed bad actors who must be held accountable. Yet, the larger truth remains—thousands of treatment providers are doing exceptional, ethical work that deserves recognition, not suspicion.
The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted systemic issues in the marketing and operation of certain treatment programs. These concerns are valid and deserve attention, but they do not define the field as a whole. Painting an entire segment of healthcare as corrupt or ineffective risks deterring people from seeking care, and can inadvertently deepen the national addiction crisis.
At the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), the mission is clear: to promote ethical, transparent, and effective addiction treatment practices nationwide. NAATP represents hundreds of licensed and accredited treatment centers committed to patient-centered care and evidence-based operations. The organization holds its members to a strict Code of Ethics, ensuring accountability and trust across the profession.
Through initiatives like the Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE), NAATP continues furthering research, assessing results, and encouraging openness within the field. The Quality Assurance Guide from NAATP establishes a robust framework for professional integrity and operational excellence. It outlines best practices encompassing everything from marketing and treatment delivery to continuing care.
This kind of structure matters. When treatment providers follow clear standards and accountability measures, patients and families can make informed decisions with confidence. NAATP’s Addiction Industry Directory exists to provide exactly that—a vetted, transparent resource for locating legitimate, ethical providers across the country.
Addiction treatment is a field defined by compassion, professionalism, and science-based care. The work of thousands of committed providers cannot be overshadowed by a few who fail to meet the mark. Ethical marketing, transparent operations, and continuous research are all key to restoring public trust and strengthening recovery outcomes.
At Lynne Legal, we understand how crucial organizations like NAATP are to communities nationwide. As a law firm deeply involved in zoning, land use, development orders, entitlements, code enforcement, and licensing, we work to ensure that healthcare and treatment providers can open, operate, and expand facilities lawfully and responsibly. From site plans and variances to building permits, conditional uses, and environmental considerations, our team helps providers navigate the complex regulatory landscape that allows life-saving treatment centers to exist in the first place.
We believe that legal support is an essential part of the recovery ecosystem. When ethical providers have the right permits, easements, and master plans in place, they can focus on what truly matters—helping patients heal. At Lynne Legal, we’re proud to stand alongside organizations like NAATP in promoting integrity, access, and accountability in behavioral healthcare development and beyond.
Source:
Lynne Legal is Of Counsel to Cohen Norris Wolmer Ray Telepman Berkowitz & Cohen.
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