The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a staggering rise in mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). Drug overdose deaths reached a record high of 93,331 in 2020, and in February 2021, nearly 42 percent of adults reported symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Because people had limited access to in-person addiction treatment, health care professionals have adopted innovative approaches to prevention and treatment, including virtual methods. These approaches, sustained in the long term, can help drive life-saving recovery no matter what family or community a person comes from.
Horizon is offering resources to help. Here are five ways members can get on and stay on the path to recovery using Horizon tools:
Access remote treatments with evidence-based telehealth options Breaking the addiction cycle can require innovative approaches. Select Horizon members who have SUD are eligible for a financial reward-based intervention that’s proven to work in more than 100 scientific studies. Horizon has partnered with DynamiCare Health to match members with telehealth recovery coaches and have them test their breath and saliva using a mobile app. The program relies on the evidence-based technique of “contingency management,” which encourages positive habits through financial incentives.
Simplify the search for quality behavioral care
It’s not always easy to find and compare addiction treatment providers based on the quality of care they provide. But Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis, is empowering simpler, more effective searches. Its partnership with Horizon has brought its groundbreaking ATLAS® to help navigate high-quality addiction treatment options.
Get access to gold-standard opioid use disorder treatment
Only an estimated quarter of New Jersey’s addiction treatment providers offer approved medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the gold-standard treatment for opioid use disorder that incorporates behavioral therapy and medications, including buprenorphine/naloxone and naltrexone.
Thanks to Horizon’s expanded provider network, members now have more and convenient options for MAT. Providers include WorkIt Health, Eleanor Health and Kaden, which provide MAT virtually. Through these options, Horizon members can obtain in-person or virtual whole-person care, including individualized behavioral health services, buprenorphine/naloxone treatment via mobile or web app, mail-in drug tests, interactive courses and individual advocates for ongoing support.
Care for the body and mind as one
Those struggling with mental health know that the body and mind are intertwined in ways that can make addressing individual issues difficult. That’s why a tailored, whole-person model of care can be essential to getting people the help they need.
Horizon has created new alliances with community-based partners to create personalized recovery and care plans, helping individuals overcome complex behavioral, substance use and medical health challenges. This Integrated System of Care (ISC) approach allows providers to coordinate care to drive better outcomes for patients by treating every aspect of health rather than addressing one singular issue at a time.
Harness the power of information
Mental health is complicated, and the stigmas surrounding it can make finding help and answers difficult. Horizon members can use a one-stop resource to help locate and access a wide spectrum of behavioral and SUD treatment and recovery services. The site includes online self-assessment tools to check symptoms and avenues to reach in-network mental health professionals.
Families coping with SUD may need help learning how to talk about and foster recovery. This how-to guide considers the way various factors might complicate the situation, offering advice on actions, insights on common red flags, and important tools families can use to help their loved ones while also caring for themselves.
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or looking to advise a friend or family member, these tools and resources can provide options to those in need of support. Encouraging people with SUD to seek treatment and begin recovery can help reclaim their lives.
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