More people with overdoses end up in hospital ERs instead of addiction treatment centers
People who need addiction treatment often end up in hospital emergency rooms where medical staff are ill-equipped to handle substance use disorders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed emergency-department data relating to opioid-involved overdoses from July 2016 to September 2017, showing an average rate increase of 5.6% per quarter. Overall, opioid-related emergency room visits have increased by 30% across the nation, with the most significant increases in the Midwest, as evidenced by CDC data. “Despite the compelling national need for treatment, the existing health care system was neither trained to care for nor especially eager to accept patients with substance use disorders,” stated the Surgeon General in his Facing Addiction in America report.
The problem with fragmented patient care services
Not all healthcare systems are created equally. Research suggests that healthcare settings vary in levels of integration, which means you won’t receive the full comprehensive care and follow-up for recovery support services you need wherever you go. A case study examining a typical emergency department (ED) visit describes a young woman who presented with opioid overdose symptoms. Five years earlier, she was given a prescription for painkillers after a car accident, but her use of opioids went unchecked when she started going to multiple providers and received high dosages of prescription opioids for pain management in both primary care settings and ED visits. The patient’s use of opioids progressed to her use of heroin, and when she was discharged from an ED visit for injection drug use, she received no referral to substance abuse treatment or a naloxone kit.
Primary care physicians are called to step up to the plate
The Washington Post reported in 2012 about the scarcity of doctors who were trained in addiction medicine. Stat News (2016) reports that in Española, a community in New Mexico with a population of roughly 10,000, only three physicians are certified to treat addiction. Although primary care physicians are “uniquely positioned to recognize problems” because patients usually seek treatment for other health-related symptoms outside of substance use disorders, their ability to reduce harm and enhance prevention is compromised due to a lack of specialized training in addiction treatment. The Fix cites a new study (2018) from Avalere Health, confirming the continuing shortage of primary care providers qualified to address the opioid epidemic. The American Medical Association (AMA) has called on its member physicians to fight against the stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and to improve patient access to substance abuse treatment.
Meet the Multidisciplinary Team at New Method Wellness
At New Method Wellness, a premier dual diagnosis treatment center in San Juan Capistrano, individuals receive client-centered high quality treatment under the care of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians. Our team of licensed psychiatrists and board-certified therapists are among the nation’s most distinguished experts in addiction treatment for co-occurring disorders and substance use disorders. Unique to New Method Wellness is our 2:1 staff ratio, meaning that every single client is paired with two therapists to ensure success and long-term recovery. In addition to our evidence-based holistic therapy programs, which are highly recommended by Dr. Phil and featured on national platforms like A & E’s Intervention, we also offer extensive follow-up support through our Extended Aftercare program for alumni. New Method Wellness has something for everyone, and the wide selection of programs, ranging from gender-specific services to the LGBTQ+ community, are tailored to serve a diverse population of clients.
Call New Method Wellness before you have to call 911
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, please call New Method Wellness before a crisis hits. Even if you have already experienced a crisis, it’s time to follow up with substance abuse treatment if you have not yet received a referral to an addiction treatment center. New Method Wellness offers more than just treatment for substance use disorders. Dual diagnosis treatment includes holistic therapy, which addresses the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – going to the roots of addiction to minimize future relapses.
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