Addiction to opioids, alcohol, and other drugs have devastating individual and family effects and too often end lives prematurely while driving enormous inefficiency in health care. Unlike many other chronic conditions — where “standards of excellence” inform consumers, health systems, and payers about best practices and services that should be available — today’s recovery services are delivered through a method often lacking alignment or integrated economic structures that incentivize long-term recovery.
In late 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General issued the seminal “Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: Facing Addiction in America.” The report issues a call for mainstream health systems to begin integrating substance use services was afforded an entire chapter. In response, organizations have formed the Alliance for Addiction Payment Reform (Alliance) to:
In late 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General issued the seminal “Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: Facing Addiction in America.” The report issues a call for mainstream health systems to begin integrating substance use services was afforded an entire chapter. In response, organizations have formed the Alliance for Addiction Payment Reform (Alliance) to:
- Provide guidance, recommendations, and tools for the development of integrated delivery models of care for addiction;
- Collectively champion payment reform and shifting towards value-based purchasing in addiction care; and
- Advance value-based models nationally through private and public channels.
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SpiritWorks Partners
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We at SpiritWorks Foundation are proud to partner with Psych Hub, the trusted resource for mental health information. Psych Hub offers a vast and engaging video library providing evidence-based education on mental health, substance use and suicide prevention as well as other important resources, all in one place.
Mental Health impacts everyone. We are dedicated to providing best-in-class resources for our employees, members and supporters and Psych Hub Join us in our campaign to educate and empower individuals, change the conversation and decrease stigma. #ImPsychEd |
EQUAL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES IS YOUR RIGHT
The 2008 Federal Parity Law requires insurers to cover illnesses of the brain, such as depression or addiction, no more restrictively than illnesses of the body, such as diabetes or cancer.
As rates of suicides and overdoses continue to climb nationwide, mental health parity is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many insurers are still not following the law.
As rates of suicides and overdoses continue to climb nationwide, mental health parity is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many insurers are still not following the law.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives
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The opioid crisis in the United States has come about because of excessive use of these drugs for both legal and illicit purposes and unprecedented levels of consequent opioid use disorder (OUD). More than 2 million people in the United States are estimated to have OUD, which is caused by prolonged use of prescription opioids, heroin, or other illicit opioids. OUD is a life-threatening condition associated with a 20-fold greater risk of early death due to overdose, infectious diseases, trauma, and suicide. Mortality related to OUD continues to escalate as this public health crisis gathers momentum across the country, with opioid overdoses killing more than 47,000 people in 2017 in the United States. Efforts to date have made no real headway in stemming this crisis, in large part because tools that already exist—like evidence-based medications—are not being deployed to maximum impact.
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Addiction Resource Center Portal (ARC)
What to Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Opioids
Every patient should ask questions when getting a new prescription. This is especially important when your doctor, dentist or other health care professional prescribes you an opioid, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine and morphine.
Commonly Misused (Abused) Drugs Charts
Most drugs of abuse can alter a person’s thinking and judgment, leading to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving and infectious disease. Most drugs could potentially harm an unborn baby; pregnancy-related issues are listed in the chart below for drugs where there is enough scientific evidence to connect the drug use to specific negative effects.
External Resources
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.
Partnership for Drug Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug Free Kids provides resources and hope to families struggling with addiction.
Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Communities Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.
Faces and Voices of Recovery
Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) is dedicated to organizing and mobilizing the over 23 million Americans in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, our families, friends and allies into recovery community organizations and networks, to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery.
National Association of Children of Alcoholics
The National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) mission is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families. Using our network of the most respected experts in the field, we provide solutions to address these impacts effectively. NACoA envisions a world in which no child who struggles because of family addiction will be left unsupported.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Addiction Policy Forum
The Addiction Policy Forum is a diverse partnership of organizations, policymakers and stakeholders committed to working together to elevate awareness around addiction and to improve national policy through a comprehensive response that includes prevention, treatment, recovery and criminal justice reform.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.
Partnership for Drug Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug Free Kids provides resources and hope to families struggling with addiction.
Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Communities Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.
Faces and Voices of Recovery
Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) is dedicated to organizing and mobilizing the over 23 million Americans in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, our families, friends and allies into recovery community organizations and networks, to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery.
National Association of Children of Alcoholics
The National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) mission is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families. Using our network of the most respected experts in the field, we provide solutions to address these impacts effectively. NACoA envisions a world in which no child who struggles because of family addiction will be left unsupported.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Addiction Policy Forum
The Addiction Policy Forum is a diverse partnership of organizations, policymakers and stakeholders committed to working together to elevate awareness around addiction and to improve national policy through a comprehensive response that includes prevention, treatment, recovery and criminal justice reform.