Author: Joseph Gerard

How Case Managers Can Help Patients Avoid Predatory Treatment Programs 

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

case managers working at a tableWritten by Marchelle Abrahams,

A typical day for Oklahoma City case manager Joe Aitson involves getting people placed in evidence-based treatment programs.

His life could have gone in a completely different direction. Describing his former “criminal mentality,” Aitson tells NPR that his introduction to drugs started when he was a teenager.

Thanks to his recovery, Aitson has found meaning in his addiction. Now he uses his lived experience to help others navigate an already complicated system.

The recovery navigator knows that finding addiction treatment should not be overwhelming and leave you defeated. And yet, for many patients and families, that’s exactly what happens.

Searching in a moment of urgency, they make decisions on the fly. When every website claims to offer “comprehensive care,” it becomes hard to tell what’s real and what’s marketing fluff.

That’s where individuals like Joe Aitson take their roles as case managers seriously. They act not as a coordinator, but as a filter. An advocate. And sometimes the only line of defense between a patient and a bad placement.

A case manager’s role is rarely small. Done well, it can change the entire trajectory of someone’s recovery.

 

The System Patients Are Walking Into 

Most patients don’t enter treatment with a reasonable understanding of how the system works. They’re trying to solve an immediate problem. Stop using. Stabilize. Get help. The details come later, if at all.

The treatment landscape is crowded. Some programs are solid and clinically grounded. Others are not. Investigative journalist and author Shoshona Walter shared firsthand accounts in her book Rehab: An American Scandal.

In it, she points out the same issues over again: aggressive marketing, unclear pricing, and admissions processes that are more like sales calls than clinical assessments.

Then there are policy gaps. A recent opinion piece by Helen King discusses how some states still lag in protecting patients from questionable insurance practices.

In simple terms, patients are being asked to make high-stakes decisions in a system that isn’t always transparent. 

 

Why Case Management Carries So Much Weight 

Case management comprises coordination. In addiction care, it provides protection. 

Case managers ensure that the right level of care is provided to the patients. They also keep an eye on key factors such as housing, employment, mental health, and family dynamics.

That sounds straightforward. But it takes work to slow things down in an environment built around speed.

Red Flags That Should Be Watched

Sometimes, the warning signs manifest early. The problem is spotting them too late, and only after a placement is made.

The Sales Pitch

Patients are told what they want to hear. A quick admission. Promises of tailored care without a proper assessment. 

Now that’s a problem. 

Legitimate addiction treatment centers should understand the patient, not fill a bed.

 

Letting the Amenities Be the Hero

While comfort is important, there are more things to take care of. When the focus is on “resort-style living” and “five-star amenities”, that’s when you ask what’s happening clinically behind the scenes. Treatment is not the same as a comfortable stay.

 

Billing That Doesn’t Add Up 

Some programs rely heavily on frequent testing or extended stays with little justification. Patients don’t always see this directly. It does, however, show up in how care is structured. 

 

Weak Discharge Planning 

What happens after treatment is not an afterthought. It’s part of the treatment. Programs that lack a path forward leave patients exposed at a vulnerable point in their lives.

 

What Case Managers Can Do

Avoiding bad programs is one part of the job. The other is actively steering patients toward reputable rehab centers.

Start With a Real Assessment

This sounds basic, and yet it’s frequently rushed. 

A solid assessment looks beyond substance use. It includes mental health, living situation, employment, and support systems. Without context, it’s easy to match a patient to the wrong level of care.

 Programs that take this seriously tend to build more effective treatment plans. 

Focus on Evidence, Not Promises 

Holistic. Comprehensive. Personalized. Some of it is meaningful. Some of it is not. 

Case managers should concentrate on a facility’s track record. Southern California has consistently ranked among the most successful rehab hubs. It also has the highest concentration of treatment facilities. Malibu, Orange County, and the Coachella Valley are home to trusted treatment programs in Southern California. Look for:

  • Access to medication-assisted treatment when appropriate
  • Individual therapy
  • Mental health support
  • Structured relapse prevention

South Shores Recovery says that trusted addiction treatment programs offer medically supervised detox programs alongside inpatient rehab.

Check Who is Delivering the Care

Patients should have access to licensed counselors, social workers, and medical professionals. A rotating cast of minimally trained staff is not the same thing.

Outcomes tend to improve when multidisciplinary teams are involved because they look beyond the presenting problem.

Ask Direct Questions

And expect direct answers:

  • How often does the patient meet with a clinician?
  • How is progress measured during the treatment process?

 

Keep the Focus on Independence 

It’s easy for organizations to create dependency. A good case manager does the opposite.

The goal is not to complete a program. It’s to help the patient function outside of it. That includes practical things (housing, work, daily structure) that don’t always get enough attention.

The Case Management Society of America emphasizes these factors as a move toward independence as a core responsibility.

 

FAQs

1. What is the clearest sign of a predatory treatment program?

A sales-driven intake process without a proper clinical assessment is one of the strongest warning signs.

2. How can case managers verify a program’s quality?

Reviewing staff credentials is the first step. Case managers should also ask for detailed treatment schedules. Additionally, they must confirm the use of evidence-based therapies.

3. What should happen after treatment ends?

Patients should leave with an aftercare plan that includes housing, support services, and ongoing recovery resources.

Key Findings

Finding Source
Coordinated care improves outcomes in substance use treatment  NCBI Bookshelf 
Case management improves service access and continuity of care  Rural Health Information Hub 
Some states still lack protections against predatory insurance practices  Opinion piece on PennLive
Long-term recovery is strongly tied to social and economic stability  The New Republic 

 

Addressing Bigger Issues

Some challenges are unfortunately bigger than treatment programs. These include problems around access to medication-assisted treatment and long-term recovery support.

There are a few crucial questions that need to be answered. What if people were paid to stop using drugs? It also discussed financial stability and incentives for recovery outcomes.

Case managers cannot fix systemic issues alone, but they can advocate for resources that support recovery beyond treatment.

 

Author bio

Writer by day, dream catcher by night. Marchelle Abrahams cut her teeth during the infancy of the internet when the dial-up sound of the modem was more than a soundbite at a rave. Not a Millennial and not a Boomer, Marchelle is an in-betweener, making her a special breed of human. As a qualified journalist, Marchelle believes her superpower is stringing a few words together and people reading them. That, and the ability to take her kids on with her unique brand of gnarly comebacks. 

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Case Management Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Do Certifications Meet HIPAA Training Needs

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Doctors, smile and portrait in hospital standing with clipboard for health care, wellness and solidarity. Clinic, surgeons or physicians together for medical advice, teamwork or collaboration.Written by Shai Curimo

If you already hold a healthcare or compliance certification, it is easy to assume you are covered. That assumption feels logical, especially if your certificate mentions privacy or data protection.

However, HIPAA does not treat certifications as proof of compliance training. Regulators expect training that is tied directly to your job role, workplace policies, and daily handling of protected health information. So the short answer is simple. Certifications help you learn, but they do not automatically satisfy HIPAA training requirements.

What does HIPAA training actually require from you

HIPAA training, especially in today’s digital consciousness, is not designed as a general education badge. It is a structured requirement that focuses on how you handle patient information inside your specific workplace.

You are expected to understand privacy rules, security safeguards, and breach reporting steps that match your actual job tasks. For example, a nurse, a billing officer, and an IT support staff member will not receive identical training content. According to a guide from the US Department of Health and Human Services, covered entities have to offer role-specific training, which should be given at the time of hiring and updated whenever the policies change. 

This is significant since compliance monitoring is mainly based on behavior and not on knowledge. If we consider global healthcare systems, including GDPR influenced regions in Europe, the same principle applies. Training must show applied understanding, not just theoretical awareness.

Why do certifications not fully meet healthcare compliance regulations

Certifications are standardized, while HIPAA training is operational. That difference is where most compliance gaps begin.

To understand this better, look at the wider framework of healthcare compliance regulations. These compliance protocols do not only focus on HIPAA. They also include cybersecurity standards, data protection laws, and internal governance rules that shape how training must be delivered and documented.

In actual audits, regulators don’t simply verify if you have passed a course. They require that you demonstrate three things. One, that training took place. Two, it is relevant to your role. Three, that you are capable of implementing it properly in actual situations.

Healthcare reports of risks related to the sector regularly indicate human mistakes as a key factor in data breaches. The study on data breaches by IBM costs also reveals that healthcare is among the most costly sectors for data incidents all over the globe, with losses often measured in millions of dollars per event.

This highlights a key issue. Certifications build awareness, but they rarely reflect your organization’s actual systems, workflows, or patient data handling rules.

When do certifications actually support HIPAA training needs

It is only when certifications act as groundwork for your proficiency that they become helpful, not when they replace it.

For those either entering healthcare for the first time or shifting to positions like medical billing or health IT, certifications will support you in grasping the most important ideas more quickly. They also familiarize you with the privacy principles, access control concepts, and the typical compliance language. They also help organizations during hiring decisions. 

A certified candidate usually requires less basic onboarding time because they already understand key terms. However, certifications only support HIPAA training when they are combined with internal, role-specific instruction. They are part of the learning path, not the final requirement.

Healthcare systems of the US, UK, and Australia are role-based compliance training with internal modules, refreshed learning, and continuous competency development at the core. They often make it a point to use such a system in their respective healthcare operations as a reflection of the guidance of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Health System (NHS) information governance systems, and Australian digital health standards.

Where do certifications fall short in real healthcare environments

The main limitation of certifications is context. HIPAA compliance is deeply tied to how your specific organization operates.

For example, a certification may explain what protected health information is. But it will not show you how your hospital system labels records or how your clinic processes patient communication requests. Certification also faces great difficulty, particularly in making updates. The threats in the healthcare sector change very fast.

For example, phishing and ransomware attacks on medical systems are increasingly common. Internal training programs can be updated at a moment’s notice, but certifications are often not at the level of real-time risks. This gap creates a practical problem.

You may understand the concept, but still fail to apply it correctly inside your workplace system.

So the issue is not knowledge. The issue is the application inside a specific environment.

How can HIPAA training be structured to meet compliance expectations

A compliant HIPAA training system is not built on a single method. It is layered, continuous, and tied to job roles.

You need onboarding training that is specific to each role

Effective HIPAA training begins with an unambiguous and role-oriented onboarding program. Employees must be able to relate privacy and security rules to their real work activities instead of only understanding the broad compliance principles.

That is why tailored instruction can become more effective to make employees understand expectations from day one and reduce the likelihood of preventable compliance mistakes.

You need annual refreshers

HIPAA compliance is a continuous obligation, especially in your industry; it can’t be treated as a one-time thing only. Some initiatives, like yearly refresher trainings, are beneficial to ensure that employees remain acquainted with policy updates, new cybersecurity threats, and changes in regulations.

Besides, these trainings are a great way to remind the staff about crucial privacy and security measures, which may have been forgotten over time. Consistent training and guidance keep the compliance consciousness alive and help in fostering a culture of accountability.

Scenario-based learning is essential

We remember practical situations much better than rules or laws only. Scenario-based learning can give your staff a chance to use HIPAA principles in their workplace.

For example, dealing with a suspected breach of compliance or responding to a patient whose personal information is not correct. This method enhances one’s decision-making abilities, and employees will be able to react with more confidence and be more suitable when real-life situations happen.

Training must align with written organizational policies

HIPAA training will be effective and relevant only if it truly reflects your organization’s real methods and expectations. To grasp fully how privacy and security requirements are embedded in the work environment, your employees need to be made aware of how to efficiently handle setbacks, like privacy breaches, access restrictions, and patient information.

Compliance, therefore, will increase if training is made consistent with official policies, which also, in turn, helps to prove the organization’s responsibility during audits.

You need documentation

Training records can prove that compliance efforts are underway. Items, like attendance logs, assessments, completion reports, and signed acknowledgments, are great supporting documents to show that employees were taught and understand their roles and duties.

It is highly essential to keep authentic records during audits or investigations when the organizations have to provide evidence for the training activities and for the management of compliance. This structure can make sure that training is not just theoretical. It becomes part of the staff and provider’s operational behavior every day.

How do you prove HIPAA training compliance during audits

Auditors do not get impressed just by certificates. They need proof that training was completed successfully, understood, and eventually used.

HIPAA compliance is a continuous obligation, especially in the healthcare sector; it can’t be treated as a one-time thing only. Certain initiatives, for example, yearly refresher trainings, are beneficial to ensure that employees remain acquainted with policy updates, new cybersecurity threats, and changes in regulations. Besides, these trainings are great ways to remind the staff about crucial privacy and security measures, which, after some time, may have been forgotten. 

Consistent training and guidance can keep your workplace’s compliance consciousness alive, crafting and continuing a culture of accountability.

Should you rely on certifications or internal HIPAA training

The most accurate answer is that you should not choose one over the other. Certifications give you a foundational understanding. HIPAA training gives you operational compliance.

You might miss the specific requirements of your workplace if you only depend on your certificates. Conversely, if you only rely on internal training and lack essential knowledge, you may find it extra difficult to understand the compliance concepts in general. The best approach is a combination.

You need certifications to give you mental preparation. Training on HIPAA, on the other hand, can give you a practical starting point. This is why modern healthcare systems treat training as a continuous cycle rather than a one-time event.

What you need to do next to improve HIPAA training readiness

Start by reviewing your current training system. Check whether each role has specific HIPAA instructions tied to daily tasks.

Then compare that with your certification use. If certifications are being treated as full compliance proof, you may have a documentation gap. Next, it might be more advantageous for you to ramp up your onboarding and yearly refresher program. It’s not recommended that you rely on shortcuts; you need to make sure that training is brought up to date each time policies or risks change.

In the end, pay attention to the clarity of your documentation. Each and every training task needs to be both traceable and verifiable. When you shift from “certificate equals compliance” to “behavior proves compliance,” your entire risk profile improves.

That is the real answer to whether certifications meet HIPAA training needs. They help, but they do not complete the job on their own.

 

About the Author

Shai Curimo is a communication arts professional with a multidisciplinary background in banking, law, human resources, and health-related studies. She focuses more on writing that clarifies complex subjects in healthcare, education, law, and professional development. Through her continued training and applied experiences, she produces content that’s interestingly simple, precise, well-researched, and crafted to meet the needs of her professional and academic readership.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Ethics Certification program and CE courses see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Why Most Teens Don’t Receive SUD Treatment and How We Can Fix It

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Teenage girl sitting on the ground next to a brick wall. Written by Marchelle Abrahams

The wonder years are meant to be a time of discovery. Finding out who you really are. Making new friends. Falling in love and experiencing your first heartbreak.

And yet, kids aren’t doing childhood like they’re supposed to. The U.S. is currently in the throes of a teen mental health crisis. The National Institute of Health claims that one in five teens is diagnosed with a mental health or behavioral condition. 

Anxiety. Depression. Academic pressure. The list includes the “best of” attractions that feed on the next generation. Most are vulnerable and scared. With little else to turn to, they experiment with substances. 

The Child Mind Institute found that over 60% of teens who use substances also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. That percentage is shockingly high. 

Psychiatrist Dr. Sarper Taskiran at the institute says that generally, almost half of kids with mental health disorders, if not treated, will end up with a substance use disorder (SUD).

Opioids, an Overlooked Issue

A study published in Health Affairs, in September last year, shed light on another problematic issue. It indicated that only one in three kids with past-year OUD received treatment.

And, in a national 2023 survey, 1.3% of kids between the ages of 12 and 17 reported an OUD. It might not sound like much, but the Prison Policy Initiative puts it into perspective. That percentage represents about 342,000 children, more than the total population of Newark, New Jersey.

Substance use is a serious issue among young people. But experts agree that the treatment protocols are failing them. So, how can counselors like you fix what’s broken? We’ll explain below.

 

Making Treatment More Accessible

The lack of access to SUD treatment will always be a moot point. The same Health Affairs study found that fewer than one in four treatment facilities offered programs specifically designed for adolescents. 

Most families can’t afford private treatment facilities, which is why health insurance can be a lifeline. To make the experience less scary for families, research adolescent treatment centers that accept insurance. 

Depending on the policy, a teen rehab that accepts insurance may cover some or all of the cost of teen addiction treatment. Contact adolescent rehabs covered by insurance directly to verify benefits and understand what’s covered. Artemis Adolescent Healing Center explains that teenage brains are still developing, requiring specialized care.

 

A Holistic Approach

Traditionally, law enforcement visits a school and teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. The message is complete abstinence. Don’t do drugs. 

This approach doesn’t work. It’s largely ineffective. It’s outdated. And guess what? One study in the American Journal of Public Health even suggested that kids who completed D.A.R.E. were more likely to take drugs.

“We know that the ‘Just Say No’ campaign doesn’t work. It’s based in pure risks, and that doesn’t resonate with teens.” developmental psychologist Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD.

Psychologists suggest using a different method. Instead of preaching not to use substances, acknowledge that some are still going to try it. And help them avoid the worst consequences, says the American Psychological Association (APA).

It might seem unconventional and taboo, but incorporating principles of harm reduction could be a solution.

 

Respecting Autonomy

Harm reduction therapy incorporates respect for autonomy, ambivalence, and lived experience, Barry Lessin tells FilterMag.

Lessin is the co-author of Harm Reduction Approaches With Adolescents Who Use Substances. He agrees that traditional treatment methods lean heavily on abstinence, compliance, and diagnosis. Never mind understanding context and relationship. 

Harm reduction therapy centers on safety, collaboration, and small and incremental change. Counselors can build trust by reducing harm in the real world. You can have boundaries about adolescent substance use, and still meet young people where they are.

Harm reduction therapy respects that process by giving teens a sense of agency and supporting healthy identity development.

 

It Starts in the Classroom

The adage still applies: One size does not fit all. That’s why schools are combining harm reduction with traditional prevention. 

Many experts trust this process. NGOs and various civic organizations offer free resources for counselors and schools. Stanford’s Halpern-Felsher REACH Lab has free, evidence-based programs.

Honest discussions must start somewhere. In the home. At school. Encourage teachers and parents to have these discussions. If they fear their kid has a substance use problem, asking for help is not a shame.

 

FAQs

Why are adolescents with mental health conditions at greater risk for substance use disorders? 

Mental health challenges and substance use mostly go hand in hand. According to the Child Mind Institute, more than 60% of teens who use substances also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. 

Why is specialized addiction treatment important for teens? 

Their brains are still developing, particularly in areas related to decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Teen-focused treatment programs are designed to address these unique developmental and mental health needs.

What is harm reduction, and how does it differ from abstinence-only approaches? 

Harm reduction acknowledges that some teens may experiment with substances and focuses on reducing the risks associated with that behavior.

How can families find more affordable adolescent addiction treatment?

Many treatment centers accept health insurance, which may cover some or all treatment costs depending on the policy.

 

Key Statistics on Teen Mental Health and Substance Use 

Statistic Finding Source
Teens diagnosed with a mental health or behavioral condition  1 in 5 adolescents  National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Teens who use substances and also have a mental health disorder  More than 60%  Child Mind Institute 
Adolescents with past-year opioid use disorder (OUD) who received treatment  Approximately 1 in 3  Health Affairs
Treatment facilities offering adolescent-tailored substance use programs  Less than 23%  Health Affairs

 

Where To From Here?

Accessing treatment is one part of the problem. Then there’s the stigma, the lack of available resources, and the thinking that teen drug use is framed as “experimenting”.

Fixing the crisis requires going back to the drawing board and reworking outdated methods. Integrating screening into schools, improving family education, and expanding access to teen-specific mental healthcare.

And it all starts with you. Counselors are aptly tuned into the chaotic daily lives of teens. It’s your superpower. Use it. 

 

Author bio

Writer by day, dream catcher by night. Marchelle Abrahams cut her teeth during the infancy of the internet when the dial sound of the modem was more than a soundbite at a rave. Not a Millennial and not a Boomer, Marchelle is an in-betweener, making her a special breed of human. As a qualified journalist, Marchelle believes her superpower is stringing a few words together and people reading them. That, and the ability to take her kids on with her unique brand of gnarly comebacks. 

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

A Case Manager’s Guide to Social Determinants in Addiction Care 

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Case Manager helping a patient

Written by Marchelle Abrahams

Interruptions to addiction treatment could make it harder to recover. No one knows this better than case manager Annette Hubbard. Working at a local community clinic in Alaska, she’s seen thousands of patients come and go.

The majority of her clients are in and out of prison. They are the most vulnerable to drug-related deaths. Hubbard routinely checks the court docket for active warrants. She helps those with opioid use disorder get treatment before they go in. 

Hubbard tells NRP that she does it voluntarily, even though it’s outside her scope of work. Because she knows that addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Neither does recovery.

If you’re a case manager, you already know this. A treatment plan can look perfect on paper and fail in the real world. Why? Simple. Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence outcomes long before a client walks through your door.

This guide breaks it down in plain terms: what SDOH means in addiction care, where case managers fit in, and how to turn awareness into action.

 

What Are Social Determinants of Health? 

These are the conditions in which people live. Work in. Move through everyday life. Housing, income, education, access to care, and social support; these are all SDOH.

These factors have a bigger impact on health outcomes than medical care alone. That’s not a small claim. It reshapes how we think about addiction treatment, explains the CDC.

The Healthy People 2030 framework groups SDOH into five key areas:

  • Economic stability
  • Education access and quality
  • Healthcare access and quality
  • Neighborhood and built environment
  • Social and community context

Case managers view the above as daily barriers.

 

How SDOH Fits into Addiction Care

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are linked to life conditions. Housing instability. Unemployment. Trauma. Lack of access to care. They all raise risk.

The American Journal of Psychiatry published a paper earlier this year. The piece explored the intersection between the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and SCE-DoH.

Researchers found that:

  • People without stable housing struggle to stay in treatment.
  • Limited income restricts admission for ongoing care.
  • Social isolation increases relapse risk.
  • Poor access to services delays intervention.

The National Academy of Medicine supports these outcomes and has called for a move towards integrated systems that address clinical care and social needs. In other words, treat the person, not only the addiction.

 

The Case Manager’s Role

Case managers sit at the crossroads of addiction and recovery care. Clinical teams, social services, families, and community resources all run through you.

Effective case management improves engagement, continuity of care, and long-term outcomes. And it goes beyond paperwork and scheduling. It’s your job to identify social barriers, connect clients to resources, and advocate across networks.

Think of it this way: clinicians stabilize. Case managers sustain.

 

Breaking Down Key Social Determinants

Housing Stability

Housing is one of the strongest predictors of recovery success. Back in 2024, Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services put the hypothesis into practice.

Homelessness is common for those struggling with addiction, said Joanna Champney, director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. 

“Reports from our behavioral health treatment providers indicate that when people enter mental health treatment in Delaware, 13% were totally homeless at admission. For people entering addiction treatment in Delaware, 7% were totally homeless.” – Joanna Champney via WHYY.

Using 2023 data, Champney reported that 67% of clients receiving services through the federal Statewide Opioid Response Grant experienced housing instability. The DHSS then initiated the Recovery Support Scholarship program, allowing treatment centers to provide housing support for patients.

As a case manager, you can:

  • Prioritize housing referrals early
  • Work with transitional housing programs
  • Build relationships with local shelters and housing services

Economic Stability

Treatments cost money. So does time off work. Unfortunately, not all rehab facilities accept Medicaid coverage. 

New Mexico’s Albuquerque is rife with fentanyl addiction. The city’s Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center is currently struggling with inmates battling drug addiction. Most are forced to detox while in prison.

Fentanyl remains the top drug threat in the area, particularly among young people, claims the DEA. Albuquerque programs that take Medicaid plans are a lifeline for residents. 

Medicaid-covered rehab can open doors to detox, in-patient, and out-patient care. Financial stress is a relapse trigger. Reducing it is part of the treatment. 

Albuquerque Medicaid treatment programs provide essential support for individuals who cannot afford private insurance, adds Icarus Recovery Center. Focus on:

  • Verifying insurance early
  • Educating clients on coverage
  • Identifying low-cost or no-cost options

Healthcare Access

Access is not having a clinic nearby. It entails getting in, staying in, and being treated.

And yet, the National Library of Medicine says that gaps in care remain an issue. It disrupts recovery during the transition period. Once again, this is where you step in.

Case managers should prioritize coordinating appointments across providers, reducing wait times where possible, and supporting follow-ups.

Social Support and Community

Recovery is hard to sustain.

Isolation and loneliness can trigger relapse. Support networks improve outcomes; it’s that simple.

Research published in Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science supports the suggestion of community integration in long-term recovery.

What works?

  • Peer support groups
  • Family engagement
  • Community-based recovery programs

 

Common Gaps Case Managers Should Be Aware Of

Even experienced professionals tend to miss a few things. Here are a few to keep on your radar:

  • Transportation gaps: Missed appointments can trace back to travel issues
  • Digital access: Telehealth fails without stable internet or devices
  • Childcare needs: Specifically in outpatient settings
  • Legal issues: Court dates and compliance requirements disrupt care

None of these sit inside treatment plans. But they do determine outcomes.

 

FAQs

1. Why are social determinants important in addiction recovery?

They directly affect whether someone can start, continue, and complete treatment. Clinical care alone isn’t enough.

2. What is the most critical SDOH in addiction care?

Housing is the biggest factor. Without stability, recovery outcomes drop substantially.

3. How can case managers improve access to care?

By coordinating services, reducing barriers such as cost and transport, and connecting clients to community resources.

4. Do Medicaid programs improve treatment outcomes?

Yes. They expand access to care for low-income individuals, making treatment more consistent and achievable.

 

Key Stats on SDOH and Addiction Care 

 

Factor Insight Source
SDOH impact Social factors can influence the majority of health outcomes CDC
Housing and addiction 7% were totally homeless WHYY
Housing instability 67% of clients The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Medicaid access Expands availability of detox and rehab services Icarus Recovery Center

 

From Awareness to Action

Understanding SDOH is the first step. Acting on them is where you’ll make the biggest impact.

Ask better intake questions. Map local resources. Track barriers over time. Advocate for system-level changes.

You don’t need to fix everything, but you do need to notice everything. And that’s the difference.

 

Author bio:

Writer by day, dream catcher by night. Marchelle Abrahams cut her teeth during the infancy of the internet when the dial sound of the modem was more than a soundbite at a rave. Not a Millennial and not a Boomer, Marchelle is an in-betweener, making her a special breed of human. As a qualified journalist, Marchelle believes her superpower is stringing a few words together and people reading them. That, and the ability to take her kids on with her unique brand of gnarly comebacks.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Case Management Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Substance Use and Mental Health: What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Attractive desperate alcoholic man . depressed addict isolated in front of whiskey glass drunk and wasted in dramatic expression suffering alcoholism and alcohol addiction problem

Written by Agwalogu Bob,

If you work in primary care, the ER, or really any part of general medicine, you’ve probably met patients with co-occurring disorders.

It could be a patient with crushing anxiety who drinks a bottle of wine a night to take the edge off. It could also be the young adult with back pain who’s become increasingly dependent on their opioid prescription. 

It definitely isn’t a niche issue anymore. In fact, recent data from SAMHSA revealed that out of 61.5 million adults with mental challenges in 2024, 34.5% also had substance use disorder. Out of this number, more than 41% didn’t get the treatment they needed for either. 

For some of the patients who fell in the crack, chances are the clinician they met didn’t know what to look for. That’s exactly what the guide is for. Read on as we discuss co-occurring disorders, why they happen, and most importantly, what you can actually do to help.

What is a Co-Occurring Disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is when someone has a substance use disorder and a mental health condition together at the same time. 

You might also hear it called a dual diagnosis. We already gave two examples in the introduction: someone with social anxiety taking alcohol for confidence, and someone with PTSD abusing sleeping pills. As of 2024, approximately 7% to 8% of U.S. adults suffer from co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, according to Statista.

4 Things Healthcare Professionals Should Know About Co-Occurring Disorders

Now that we know what co-occurring disorders are and how prevalent they are, let’s look at four truths every healthcare practitioner should know about this condition.

Substance Use and Mental Illness are Bidirectional

Substance use disorder and mental illness have a two-way relationship.

On one side, there’s self-medication. This could be a person with PTSD who uses opioids or sleeping pills just so they can forget.

The second direction is substance use itself, actually causing or worsening psychiatric symptoms. People who consume alcohol heavily, for example, can also suffer severe depressive episodes. 

In fact, research shows that 50% of the adults who misuse substances are also likely to suffer from one form of mental illness or another.

So, how do you know if what you’re looking at is a co-occurring disorder? Some common examples include:

  • Depression and alcohol use
  • Anxiety disorders with benzodiazepine misuse
  • PTSD with opioid use
  • Bipolar disorder with stimulant misuse

The problem? Diagnosing these issues in a single fifteen-minute consultation is almost impossible. You have to see the pattern over time before you can confidently determine the problem and decide on a proper treatment plan.

Integrated Treatment is the Most Effective

It can be tempting to want to treat co-occurring disorders as isolated cases. Most people do this. In fact, the medical system has historically walked separate paths, and treating in isolation has always been the model.

The truth, however, is that when addiction and mental illness are handled as separate cases, a lot of patients will fall through the cracks. The result? Increased risk of relapse. This is why integrated care is the most effective option.

Rather than addressing each condition separately, a single team handles the treatment programs for co-occurring disorders. In practice, that means:

  • One coordinated care team for mental health and addiction
  • Shared treatment goals
  • Better communication between providers
  • Fewer gaps in care
  • More personalized treatment
  • Better long-term outcomes

And it really works, too. A 2025 BMC Nursing literature review found that integrated, patient-centred care that combines psychosocial and pharmacological approaches is the most effective way to treat dual diagnosis. It consistently performs better than fragmented care.

Diagnosis is Highly Complex

Another thing healthcare teams should know about comorbid disorders is that diagnosis can be really complex. Why? Because symptoms tend to mask or overlap.

The quote below by the Mental Health Academy sums this up perfectly. 

“Co-occurring mental health disorders are not the exception – they’re the reality for many clients. And they often present one of the most challenging landscapes for assessment and intervention.” – Mental Health Academy via LinkedIn.

Let’s look at some examples of this overlap using the table below:

 

Substance-Related Presentation Can Mimic or Mask
Alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal Primary anxiety disorder (tremor, racing heart, panic)
Stimulant intoxication or withdrawal Bipolar mania or hypomania (elevated mood, agitation, grandiosity)
Chronic alcohol use Major depressive disorder (low mood, poor sleep, low energy)
Opioid withdrawal Generalized anxiety or panic disorder (restlessness, GI upset, insomnia)
Cannabis-induced psychosis Primary psychotic disorder (schizophrenia spectrum)
Stimulant-induced psychosis Acute primary psychosis
Untreated PTSD hyperarousal Stimulant intoxication or withdrawal

 

As we’ve already established, you have to see these patterns over time before you can determine what exactly is happening. 

Take Bipolar Affective Disorders, for example. According to Icarus Behavioral Health, if a doctor misses the hypomanic episodes, they can inaccurately diagnose the person with depression alone. Even worse, they can mistake it for just withdrawal from certain substances.

This is why watching for patterns is important. When symptoms only show up alongside substance use and clear up after a period of abstinence, they’re more likely to be substance-induced. 

But when they persist even after complete abstinence, then you’re looking at a primary psychiatric disorder.

Recovery is a Long-Term Process

Finally, it’s important to understand that recovery doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, structure, and consistency. 

It’s also important to note that relapses do happen, but this doesn’t mean that the treatment failed. It could simply mean that the plan needs a bit of adjustment.

The biggest part of recovery? What happens after? Transitioning from structured care back to everyday life is a vulnerable point for many patients. Many of them end up getting readmitted within the first 30 days after discharge, especially when there’s no strong system in place.

This is why there should be a proper hand-off, which should actually feel like a continuation of care.

This means:

  • Clear follow-up appointments before discharge
  • Direct connection to outpatient or community services
  • Medication continuity where needed
  • Warm handoff, not just a referral slip

When these steps are in place, there’s a stronger chance of full recovery.

FAQs

How many people have co-occurring health conditions?

The number of people with these conditions differs based on the study you’re looking at. However, SAMHSA estimates that more than 34% of the 61.5 million people with mental challenges also struggle with substance use disorder.

 

Should substance use or mental health symptoms be treated first?

Neither should necessarily come first. Co-occurring disorders should be handled together using an integrated care model. Treating them separately may mean incomplete recovery and relapse.

 

How can clinicians determine whether a patient has a co-occurring disorder or not?

Clinicians can determine whether it’s a co-occurring disorder or not by looking at patterns. Probably the best giveaway is symptom persistence. If symptoms continue during the period a person is abstaining from substance use, then it may suggest an underlying mental health condition.

Co-Occurring Disorders: Final Thoughts

Co-occurring disorders are common, complex, and frequently missed. But they don’t have to be. By understanding the bi-directional relationship, embracing integrated treatment, and knowing symptoms that overlap, healthcare practitioners can make a real difference in patient outcomes.

Hopefully, this article has helped bring some clarity to a topic that often feels more complicated in practice than it looks on paper.

 

Author Bio

Agwalogu Bob believes great content doesn’t just inform, it resonates, and then sticks. For over eight years, he’s been helping agencies across four continents craft just that kind of content: sharp, engaging cut-through-the-noise copy across SaaS, finance, tech, health, and lifestyle.

When he’s not putting pen to paper, you’ll likely find him scouring the internet for funny memes.

Connect with him on LinkedIn or Medium.

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Why Patients Feel Taken Advantage of in Rehab, and How to Change That 

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Victims of bullying need external supports to help them cope through the abuse of bullying and shaming

Written by Marchelle Abrahams,

For decades, addiction was treated as a criminal problem. And then research suggested that we view it as a medical condition and address it as such.

This understanding is now helping rehab centers take a more holistic approach in treating millions of people with a substance use disorder (SUD). But the divide remains.

Even with all the evidence pointing towards addiction as a moral failing, many experts believe that SUDs and crime are inextricably connected. Add physician and author Dr. Gabor Maté’s unshakable views as a coping mechanism for unresolved trauma, and the discourse becomes deafening.

It doesn’t matter which hypothesis you subscribe to: criminal, medical or trauma. The question is how you treat it. Rehabs are at the center of this paradigm. And treatment is an industry too.

A Broken System?

Talk to enough people in recovery, and a common thread emerges: one where patients feel misled, pressured, or exploited.

This isn’t a reputational issue. It’s a clinical one. As a rehab counselor, you know that when trust diminishes, outcomes suffer. Dropout rates rise. Relapse risk increases.

Oftentimes, patients feel taken advantage of in treatment centers. So, what can you do to fix it?

 

The Trust Gap: Where It Starts 

A study published in the National Institutes of Health sought to identify barriers to optimal inpatient rehabilitation outcomes among patients with spatial neglect (SN). 

It was determined that specific needs, such as family support, training, and treatment engagement, were strong predictors of recovery outcomes. However, engagement depends heavily on trust. And trust is what many patients say is missing.

Across forums like Reddit, a recurring theme appears: “I don’t know who to trust.” That uncertainty influences every interaction from intake to discharge.

One Redditor posted a desperate plea to find a real treatment program that wasn’t “predatory.” The responses ranged from empathy to helpful advice to join a program that offers CBT, trauma work, and relapse prevention.

 

Lack of Transparency Around Costs and Insurance 

Patients regularly enter treatment without understanding what their insurance will cover. Or what they’ll owe out of pocket.

Unexpected bills can put them back, psychologically. Cases involving lawsuits reinforce this perception. 

Case Study

A 32-year-old patient enters a residential program believing her insurance covers 30 days. She’s discharged after 10 due to coverage limits. She receives a bill for the remaining balance. The patient leaves feeling misled, even if the provider followed policy.

The Fix

  • Walk through insurance coverage line-by-line before admission.
  • Provide written cost estimates (and update them as needed).
  • Assign a financial liaison patients can reach.

Transparency upfront reduces resentment later. It’s that simple.

 

Forced or Coerced Treatment 

In some states, civil commitment laws allow individuals to be placed in treatment without consent. 

In Idaho, for instance, only a peace officer or qualifying members of medical staff can initiate an emergency evaluation, per Idaho Code 66-326. The Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) recommends that family members directly file an emergency court order for court-ordered treatment.

Case Study

A young adult in Ada County is admitted under family pressure. They feel stripped of autonomy and resist participation. Even after transitioning to voluntary care, they remain disengaged. 

The Fix

Icarus Wellness and Recovery advises counselors to use involuntary commitment laws as a guideline to obtain court-approved treatment providers.

 

Patient Brokering and Questionable Referrals 

Patient brokering, where individuals are referred to specific facilities in exchange for financial incentives, has become a major concern. 

Families report being steered toward programs that benefit the referrer rather than the patient.

Case Study

A parent seeking help for their son is contacted by multiple “advisors.” Each pushes a different facility, sometimes in another state. The son cycles through programs without improvement. The family later learns those referrals were financially motivated. 

The Fix

  • Be transparent about referral relationships.
  • Avoid commission-based referral structures.
  • Focus on clinical fit over bed availability.

Patients can sense when they’re being “placed” instead of helped. Counselors should make clinical reasoning visible.

 

General Treatment Plans 

Patients report feeling like they’re being pushed through a system rather than treated as individuals. 

Standardized approaches don’t work for everyone.

Case Study

Two patients with different trauma histories receive identical treatment schedules. One engages. The other shuts down.

The Fix

  • Tailor treatment plans to individual histories and goals.
  • Adjust pacing and modalities based on response.
  • Involve patients in treatment decisions.

Personalization now becomes a requirement for buy-in.

 

Poor Communication from Staff 

Confusion around rules. Expectations and progress. When these aren’t communicated to them, patients get stressed and anxious. And that leads to mistrust.

Patient satisfaction impacts recovery outcomes, patient adherence, and the facility’s reputation. 

Case Study

A patient violates a rule they didn’t fully understand and faces consequences. They interpret this as unfair treatment instead of a misunderstanding. 

The Fix

  • Set clear expectations from day one.
  • Repeat key information regularly.
  • Encourage questions without judgment.

Clarity builds safety, which builds trust.

 

The ‘Revolving Door’ Experience 

Some patients cycle through multiple programs without lasting results. 

The New York Times recently reviewed a book by investigative reporter Shoshana Walter on systemic issues in parts of the rehab industry, including profit-driven practices.

Case Study

A patient attends three facilities in two years. Each promises a fresh start. None address underlying trauma. The patient begins to believe rehab itself is the problem. 

The Fix

  • Concentrate on continuity of care beyond discharge.
  • Build realistic expectations about recovery timelines.
  • Address root causes, not symptoms.

Recovery isn’t a 30-day event. Treating it like one sets patients up for failure.

 

FAQs

1. Why do patients distrust rehab programs?

Many patients report unclear costs, inconsistent communication, and feeling like decisions are made for them rather than with them.

2. Does forced rehab work?

It can stabilize individuals in the short-term, but long-term success improves when patients transition to voluntary, engaged participation.

3. How can counselors improve patient engagement?

By involving patients in decisions, setting expectations, and showing measurable progress throughout treatment.

4. What is patient brokering, and why is it harmful?

Patient brokering involves referrals driven by financial incentives rather than clinical need, which can lead to poor treatment matches and repeated relapse cycles.

 

Key Facts at a Glance

Insight Source
Treatment engagement is a key predictor of recovery success  NIH (2021)
Patient satisfaction improves with better communication  Net Health
Patient brokering continues to impact treatment quality  Partnership to End Addiction 
Outcome tracking improves care effectiveness  NIH (2024)

 

What Counselors Can Do Differently

Fixing these issues starts with small changes.

Be transparent, even when the truth is uncomfortable. Treat patients as partners, not participants. Prioritize long-term outcomes over short-term metrics. Build trust intentionally, not passively.

Patients don’t expect perfection. They expect honesty.

Author Bio:

Writer by day, dream catcher by night. Marchelle Abrahams cut her teeth during the infancy of the internet when the dial sound of the modem was more than a soundbite at a rave. Not a Millennial and not a Boomer, Marchelle is an in-betweener, making her a special breed of human. As a qualified journalist, Marchelle believes her superpower is stringing a few words together and people reading them. That, and the ability to take her kids on with her unique brand of gnarly comebacks.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Why Military Families Struggle to Find Addiction Counselors

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

While many only correlate PTSD with veterans it can also affect survivors of abuse or other traumatic experiences

Written by Marchelle Abrahams

Karie Fugett will never forget that morning in November 2008 when she found her husband lying next to her. Suffocating on his own vomit, he turned purple.

Frantically, she performed CPR. When the paramedics arrived, they injected him with naloxone into the heart. Cleve Fugett survived that day. Four years later, he wasn’t as lucky. 

The veteran developed a dependence on prescription opioids after sustaining injuries during his deployment in Iraq. He later died from a fentanyl overdose while at an inpatient facility for veterans with PTSD.

Karie says Cleve died afraid of losing his military status. For thousands of military personnel, the shame of addiction weighs heavily on them. And so, Karie wrote a book, Alive Day, detailing the hardships her husband endured. 

Today, she remains actively involved in desperately finding a solution to the U.S. fentanyl crisis. Her 2025 opinion piece for The Guardian is grounded in facts and research, pleading with the government to do more for military families.

 

Trauma and Shame are Major Barriers to Seeking Help

Cleve Fugett should have received addiction counseling when he became dependent on prescription opioids. 

Instead, his doctors switched him to something new. It went from Dilaudid to Percocet, then methadone, OxyContin, and eventually fentanyl. The main reason vets don’t enter treatment facilities is the fear of losing their rank. 

“Until the military publicly ensures no veteran’s job, rank, or benefits will be taken away for substance abuse, service members and veterans will continue dying from overdoses.” – Karie Fugett via Vox.

 

Limited Access

Those who choose professional help may find themselves hitting a wall.

On paper, coverage exists. Programs are listed. Resources are available. In practice, families struggle to find a qualified counselor who understands their needs and takes their insurance.

In a treatment setting, this shows up as missed referrals, delayed admissions, and patients arriving after months of trying to get help. 

As a counselor, you need to understand where the breakdown happens when working with military-connected clients.

 

The Demand Is Higher Than Many Realize 

Military personnel face increased risks when it comes to substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Exposure to trauma. Repeated deployments. Chronic stress and reintegration challenges. They all play a role. 

Research shows strong links between PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders (SUDs) in veteran populations, according to Psychology Today. Citing figures from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the publication claims that 7.5% of veterans reported heavy alcohol use compared to 6.5% of non-vets. 

There’s also the issue of identity. Substance use is tied to ongoing struggles around purpose, belonging, and transition back to civilian life. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing says that without a clear mission and support network they once relied on, many experience uncertainty and isolation.

These are not simple cases. They require specialized, often long-term care.

 

Coverage Doesn’t Equal Care

From the outside, it looks like military families have options. In reality, finding programs that take TRICARE in-network has its limitations.

TRICARE in-network treatment programs cover a wide range of services, including outpatient counseling, inpatient care, and substance use treatment.

Coverage is only one piece of the puzzle.

A shrinking pool of providers, longer wait times, and limited access to specialized addiction care are some of the problems encountered. TricareRehabs.com suggests families consult a private placement service that provides information on addiction treatment programs that accept TRICARE.

 

Why Providers Opt Out

For counselors, the decision to accept or reject insurance is rarely personal. It’s practical. 

Low Reimbursement Rates 

One of the biggest concerns is compensation.

Therapists report that reimbursement rates can be substantially lower than other insurance plans, sometimes below Medicaid levels. Over time, that becomes unsustainable.

Administrative Burden 

The paperwork is another major issue.

Providers describe increased documentation requirements, ongoing compliance checks, and time-consuming claims processes. In some cases, clinicians are required to submit detailed notes after every session.

That time comes out of clinical work.

A Reddit discussion among therapists highlights the administrative demands. They can outweigh the benefits of participation, pushing providers toward private pay or out-of-network models.

Payment Delays and Uncertainty 

Even when services are provided, payment is not always predictable.

Delayed reimbursements and claim denials create cash flow issues, particularly for smaller practices. For counselors, that uncertainty is enough to step away from insurance panels altogether.

Clinical Complexity Requires Specialized Care 

Not every provider is equipped to work with military populations. 

Emerging Treatments 

We’re seeing newer approaches to trauma and addiction treatment, including psychedelic-assisted therapy. 

Some veterans are seeking these treatments for PTSD and related conditions outside traditional systems.

Gaps in Continuity of Care 

The challenges don’t stop when a patient enters treatment.

Continuity of care is fragmented. Transitions between detox, inpatient, outpatient, and community support are not always smooth.

The National Institutes of Health’s research on substance use treatment systems shows the need for coordinated care across levels of treatment. Unless addressed, these gaps can lead to relapse or disengagement.

 

Moving Toward Better Access 

Understanding the “why” helps counselors set realistic expectations, advocate more effectively, and design treatment plans that account for system-level barriers. 

There is no single fix. Yet a few steps can make a difference:

  • Building referral networks that include TRICARE-approved rehab centers
  • Strengthening case management and care coordination
  • Expanding trauma-informed and culturally competent care
  • Supporting policy efforts that address reimbursement and access

Awareness is a starting point. When counselors understand the barriers their patients face before they walk through the door, they are better positioned to respond.

 

FAQs

1. Why don’t more counselors and rehab centers accept TRICARE?

Low reimbursement rates, administrative burden, and payment delays make participation difficult for many providers.

2. Are military clients more complex clinically?

Many present with co-occurring conditions such as PTSD and substance use, which require specialized, integrated care.

3. Does stigma still affect military families seeking treatment?

Yes. Concerns about confidentiality, career impact, and judgment can delay help-seeking.

4. What can rehab counselors do to improve access?

Strengthening referral networks, improving care coordination, and using trauma-informed approaches can help.

 

Key Facts

 

Fact Source
7.5% of veterans reported heavy alcohol use compared to 6.5% of non-vets 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Coordinated care improves outcomes in substance use treatment systems  PMC (2023)
TRICARE covers a wide range of mental health services, but provider participation varies  TRICARE Newsroom
Veterans experience higher rates of co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders  Psychology Today (2024)

 

Recognizing the Obstacles

Military families are not struggling to find addiction counselors because they lack coverage. They are struggling because coverage does not guarantee access.

Between provider shortages, administrative barriers, clinical complexity, and stigma, the path to care becomes harder than it should be.

As a counselor in a treatment setting, recognizing these obstacles is helpful and necessary. It shapes how patients enter treatment, engage, and recover.

 

Author bio

Writer by day, dream catcher by night. Marchelle Abrahams cut her teeth during the infancy of the internet when the dial-up sound of the modem was more than a soundbite at a rave. Not a Millennial and not a Boomer, Marchelle is an in-betweener, making her a special breed of human. As a qualified journalist, Marchelle believes her superpower is stringing a few words together and people reading them. That, and the ability to take her kids on with her unique brand of gnarly comebacks. 

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Addiction Trends and What Healthcare Professionals Should Watch For

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Addiction in its Many Forms Such as Gaming and Alcohol AbuseWritten by Agwalogu Bob

Addiction has always been a problem around the world. But it has been evolving so much faster these days that keeping up is almost impossible. That’s not to say it’s all doom and bad news. 

A 2025 Reuters report referencing the CDC suggests that overdose deaths in the United States fell significantly in 2024, with around 80,000 deaths reported. However, it still remains one of the biggest causes of death among adults under 45.

Yes, there are improvements, but the problem appears to be growing underneath, driven by certain trends and factors.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the top trends and factors driving addiction and what healthcare professionals should look out for.

Polysubstance Use Is Becoming More Common

Polysubstance use is one of the biggest trends in the world of substance use right now. This is when someone uses two or more drugs together or within a short window, and not for medical or health reasons.

Polysubstance use can sometimes be intentional. This happens when people mix stimulants and depressants. Other times, it’s unintentional because people unknowingly consume mixed substances that have been contaminated at the source. This one is a key problem with the illicit drug supply. 

This means that when a patient says that they used “only one thing”, they may actually not know what else is in their system.

And the results are really bad.

The American Medical Association reports that roughly 60% of people who overdosed also consumed another dangerous substance. 

“The drug supply is more toxic and unpredictable than ever,” notes AMA CEO John Whyte, MD.

The good news? The more popular this trend becomes, the more care evolves to keep up. Many providers now refer patients to flexible care options, including online programs that accept Medi-Cal, for those within California. 

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, which provides free or low-cost health coverage to low-income Californians. According to Shanti Recovery, its coverage also extends to a wide range of substance use disorder and mental health disorder treatment services.

These programs remove or at least reduce the roadblocks for people who need help but have to deal with transportation issues, tight work schedules, or geographic barriers.

Behavioral Addictions Are Rising

A few years ago, substance use, like drugs and alcohol, was the major driver of addiction. That has changed today. Now, behavioral addictions, including gambling disorder, gaming addiction, and compulsive social media use, are showing up more frequently in clinical settings.

It’s become so serious that, in 2022, the World Health Organization formally recognized gaming addiction through the ICD-11. The WHO describes problematic gaming behavior as “gaming disorder,” while “problematic social media use” is generally used to refer to internet and social media behaviors. 

While this is a problem everywhere, a 2025 study by the American Gaming Association found that 57% of Americans actually gamble at an alarming level.

The takeaway here is simple but important: this issue shouldn’t be treated as a lesser concern. A patient whose internet gaming disorder is causing them to miss work, skip meals, and isolate socially, needs care.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders Are Increasingly Common

The relationship between mental health issues and substance use is becoming increasingly undeniable. People use drugs to cope with PTSD, anxiety, depression, stress, and lots more. And substance use, in turn, can trigger or worsen these conditions.

A patient dealing with post-op pain might rely more and more on painkillers, which can lead to a new set of problems, this time mental. It’s actually happening already.

Recent data shows that over 21.2 million adults struggle with both substance use disorder and some form of mental health problem.

The problem? Treating these issues separately isn’t efficient.

According to Elizabeth Evans, MD, medical director at Columbia University’s Smithers Center:

“Individuals with co-occurring concerns often need specialized treatment that can appreciate the complexity and nuance of an integrated approach to treatment.”

In simple English, co-occurring disorders are best managed with integrated care. Treat one condition, and the other remains, causing the treated one to return stronger.

Technology Is Influencing Both Addiction and Recovery

Finally, it’s important to understand the place of technology in the scheme of things. It’s a double-edged sword. 

On one hand, digital platforms feed behavioral addictions. The constant dopamine hits from social media, online games, and gambling apps are engineered to keep people hooked. 

Technology has also made it easier for people to access drugs, mostly on the dark web. A good example is Archetyp Market, possibly the biggest criminal and drug marketplace on the dark web, which was dismantled in 2025.

But technology is also a strong and effective tool for recovery. 

Telehealth has exploded, breaking down barriers to treatment. People can consult, access therapy, and get medication prescriptions no matter where they are. There are also digital health and wellness apps, as well as online therapy platforms that make care easy and accessible.

What does this mean for healthcare practitioners? It means that clinicians should also consider a patient’s digital environment when diagnosing and creating treatment plans. The goal is to understand how much of a role tech plays in their health problem and the digital tools you can leverage to support their recovery.

Key Addiction Trends at a Glance

Trend What It Is Clinical Concern Key Takeaway
Polysubstance Use Using multiple drugs at once or close together Higher overdose risk, unpredictable effects Patients may not know all the substances in their system
Behavioral Addictions Gambling, gaming, and social media overuse Functional decline without substance use Can disrupt work, sleep, and social life
Co-occurring Disorders Addiction and mental health challenges Higher symptom complexity and risk of relapse Requires proper integrated care for a better chance at full recovery
Technology-driven Addiction Digital platforms can reinforce or help with compulsive use Constant exposure and limited power to control the effects of the exposure The patient’s digital habits should be part of the assessment

FAQs

What is polysubstance use, and why is it dangerous?

Polysubstance use is when a person abuses more than one drug at a time. It’s dangerous because the effects are unpredictable and can put the user at a higher risk of overdose or medical emergency.

How common is mental illness among people with substance use addiction?

Short answer, very. Dual diagnosis is incredibly common. People who struggle with mental health challenges often use alcohol and drugs to deal with things. Unfortunately, it only worsens the situation. On the other hand, drug and alcohol misuse can lead to mental health problems.

Are behavioral addictions really that serious?

Absolutely. The truth is that behavioral addictions can actually be as damaging as substance use disorders. And just like substance use, they can cause the affected people a lot of harm, both financial, social, and psychological.

Wrapping Up

Healthcare’s changing, and mental health and addiction are right in the middle of it. We’ve already covered some of the big trends driving that change in this article.

The good news is that there’s real light at the end of the tunnel. We can already see signs. For example, overdose deaths have been going down recently. That’s real progress. But there’s still work to be done. And if we want to do this work well and keep moving forward, we need to know what we’re working with. These trends we’ve discussed in this article are some of the things that matter.

 

Author Bio

Agwalogu Bob believes great content doesn’t just inform, it resonates, and then sticks. For over eight years, he’s been helping agencies across four continents craft just that kind of content: sharp, engaging cut-through-the-noise copy across SaaS, finance, tech, health, and lifestyle.

When he’s not putting pen to paper, you’ll likely find him scouring the internet for funny memes.

Connect with him on LinkedIn or Medium.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counselor Certification program and CE Courses see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

What is Integrated Health and Why It Matters for Whole-Person Well-Being

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Nurse working with a senior patient

Written by Agwalogu Bob,

Every healthcare professional has probably experienced this many times. A patient comes in with symptoms of hypertension. But they’re struggling with anxiety, too. They’re not sleeping well. 

While it makes sense to just treat the blood pressure and believe that the other symptoms will autocorrect, that’s just like putting a band-aid on a leaky pipe.

The truth about medicine today is that different providers treating symptoms in isolation may no longer be as effective as they were in the past. It only leads to gaps in care, duplicated tests, and a frustrating experience for everyone involved. 

What works better now is the integrated approach, where an inter-professional team develops a unified treatment plan that touches the patient’s mental, physical, emotional, and social health equally. This is the best way to achieve whole-person health.

A 2024 study from University College London adds weight to this thinking. Researchers found that when organs are in bad shape, the brain also suffers. And because it’s a two-way street, mental health issues can increase the risk for chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. But with integrated health, all these bases are covered.

So, what does this mean for healthcare teams? Let’s break it down.

What Is Integrated Health?

Integrated health is a coordinated approach that combines medical and behavioral health services within one treatment plan. It goes beyond treating a single symptom or diagnosis and instead coordinates care around the whole person. 

If a patient has high blood pressure, for example, the traditional approach is for you to focus primarily on lowering it by prescribing an antihypertensive medication. The integrated health approach goes beyond that.

It brings together medical care, behavioral health, and social support services to address the factors that may be affecting the patient’s overall health.

So, in addition to prescribing medication and lifestyle changes, you or another qualified person will also look into their sleep, stress, diet, and social life.

The goal is to give the patient a unified, well-connected system of care designed to improve their health outcomes and overall experience. In practice, this may mean considering: 

  • Mental health
  • Physical health
  • Emotional well-being
  • Social support
  • Lifestyle habits such as sleep, nutrition, and physical activity

Patients don’t often get the full benefit of modern healthcare when we do isolated treatments. In fact, a recent study by the OECD shows that siloed or fragmented healthcare services may result in poor health outcomes. 

On the other hand, integrated healthcare services improve patient experience, reduce healthcare costs, and most importantly, promote better health outcomes.

Why Is Integrated Health Crucial for Modern Healthcare?

Integrated health is crucial for modern health because of the undeniable connection between physical and mental well-being. 

Virtually every person in medicine knows that the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems communicate continuously. As a result of this bidirectional relationship, physical disorders frequently cause psychological distress, and vice versa.

If a person is suffering from acute stress, for example, their sympathetic nervous system will more or less be locked in a fight-or-flight state. Over time, this biological tax increases the patient’s risk for chronic illnesses.

What integrated care models do is catch the interconnected factors across both physical and mental health domains before they become a crisis. 

NCCIH director Helene M. Langevin made a similar point in a 2025 director’s message on the topic.

“In the health care system, co-occurring chronic diseases are usually treated separately. Once these diseases occur, the symptoms of disease progression are managed with medications or surgery, often leaving important contributing factors unaddressed.”

She went on to emphasize the shift toward a more unified model of care:

“Whole-person health inverts this traditional thinking. Instead of treating diseases one at a time, once they occur, it combines psychological, nutritional, and physical interventions and self-care to address the whole person proactively.” 

When to Transition Patients to Specialized Care

As practitioners, it’s important to know when a patient’s needs go beyond mere collaborative care. 

Take the following issues, for example:

  • Anxiety or low mood that sticks around for weeks
  • Trouble functioning in everyday activities
  • Major depressive disorder
  • First-episode psychosis
  • Trauma symptoms that keep resurfacing
  • Maladaptive substance use

Some of the patients with these mental health issues will need dedicated specialists as soon as possible.

In fact, you may want to think about looking for programs that accept mental health-only clients. The idea is focused stabilization without the distractions of general medical wards.

If you’re in the healthcare industry, you probably already know that the need for this is growing. 

According to the CDC, depression prevalence among U.S. adults increased by roughly 60% in a decade. The truth is that while integrated care is effective, it may not be able to deal with such numbers.

The good news, according to Catalina Behavioral Health, is that different mental health treatment centers exist that provide various forms of therapy. 

The message is simple: clinicians should balance coordinated care with timely referral to specialists when symptom severity, duration, or risk exceeds what integrated care can handle.

What Are the Biggest Benefits of Integrated Health?

The benefits of integrated care extend to patients, providers, and the healthcare system in general. Here are just a few examples.

For Patients

  • Better chronic disease management
  • Earlier detection of comorbid conditions
  • Reduced duplication of diagnostic tests
  • Improved treatment adherence
  • Better overall quality of life

For Healthcare Providers

  • Improved communication across specialties
  • Shared decision-making structures
  • Reduced clinical blind spots
  • Lower professional burnout due to clearer coordination

For the Healthcare System

  • Reduced hospital readmissions
  • Lower long-term care costs
  • Improved population health outcomes
  • More efficient use of resources

One of the most significant outcomes of integrated care is improved cost efficiency. A 2025 cost analysis published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health found that adding behavioral health support into primary care for refugees cut inpatient costs by more than $8,000 per patient. This shows what happens financially when care stops being fragmented and starts being coordinated.

FAQs

What is integrated health?

Integrated health is a collaborative approach where medical and behavioral health providers work together to develop a single, comprehensive treatment plan for a patient. The goal is to handle every factor affecting the patient’s health under one team and care plan, rather than treating them separately.

What are the benefits of integrated healthcare?

There are many benefits to integrated healthcare, but the ones that stand out are better management of chronic diseases, improved mental well-being, and faster recovery from illness. This approach can also potentially lower healthcare costs.

Can integrated health help manage chronic diseases?

Absolutely. Integrated care addresses the underlying factors that affect both the illness and the treatment. This makes medical care more effective for patients dealing with chronic conditions.

Traditional Care vs. Integrated Health Side-by-Side

Traditional Care Integrated Health
Treats one condition at a time Treats the whole person
Specialists work separately Providers work as one team
Focuses on symptoms Addresses root causes and contributing factors
Care plans may be disconnected One coordinated treatment plan
Higher risk of duplicated tests Better communication and less duplication
Reactive approach Proactive, preventive approach

Bringing Care Together

Healthcare has largely been symptom-based for years. But this approach creates gaps in communication and continuity, especially for patients with complex, long-term conditions.

Integrated care is the structural fix. The result? Better collaboration among care teams, more personalized treatment, and improved outcomes for patients.

Wherever you are on the frontlines, you may want to start making it a part of your system, because care works better when it’s not delivered separately.

 

Author Bio

Agwalogu Bob believes great content doesn’t just inform, it resonates, and then sticks. For over eight years, he’s been helping agencies across four continents craft just that kind of content: sharp, engaging cut-through-the-noise copy across SaaS, finance, tech, health, and lifestyle.

When he’s not putting pen to paper, you’ll likely find him scouring the internet for funny memes.

Connect with him on LinkedIn or Medium.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic Nursing Certification program and Nurse Courses see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Botox and Filler Training for Injectors: A Clinician’s Path Into Aesthetic Medicine

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Written by Kiara DeWitt,

Fewer patients are going under the knife these days. They’d rather get Botox or filler, and most of them just want to look a bit less worn out, the kind of thing where people can’t quite place what changed, and still make it back to the office by afternoon.

That shift cracked open something real for clinicians. When I started InjectCo in early 2021, I was still serving as lead clinical educator for a pediatric neurosurgery and neurology unit, and I watched how many sharp, experienced nurses were quietly looking for a way out of the 3 a.m. pages. Botox and filler training for injectors is what gives them that door.

Most people don’t land in this work right after school. The clinicians who come to me have usually been practicing for years already, whether as RNs, nurse practitioners, PAs, or physicians, and they know their way around a patient.

Their questions tend to be grounded ones, like whether the law in their state actually allows it, what real training involves, and whether the income holds up once the dust settles. Let me answer all of that here.

Is the Botox Industry Still Growing?

Yes. And it has been climbing for years.

Non-surgical procedures keep rising, market after market, and not only in big coastal cities. A patient in her late twenties books preventative treatment while her mother takes the next slot for rejuvenation. The age range is wider than most people assume.

A few forces pull in the same direction:

  • The stigma is mostly gone. People mention their filler appointment the way they mention their haircut.
  • Social media handed patients a benchmark, so they know what good work looks like and shop for it.
  • The products got better. More options, better outcomes, happier patients.
  • Downtime is the quiet dealbreaker. A lunch-hour visit fits a real life, while two weeks of recovery does not.

Here is the part clinicians should sit with. Across my eight clinics, I have more open injector positions than I have qualified people to fill them. This is not a trend. It is a shortage.

What RN Botox Injectors Actually Earn

Earnings here are all over the map, and anyone quoting you a single figure is guessing. Location matters most. An injector in a pricey metro earns on a different scale than one a couple states inland. Stack on experience, patient volume, practice type, and pay model, and the range widens fast.

Here is how the common settings shake out:

Practice Setting Compensation Structure What You Get
Medical Spa Base plus volume incentives High patient throughput
Dermatology Practice Fixed salary with benefits Specialty aesthetic focus
Plastic Surgery Office Salary with bonus potential Surgical and non-surgical exposure
Independent Practice (where state law allows) Revenue-based More schedule control
Multi-Specialty Clinic Traditional employment Variety in patient population

When my team explains why they made the jump, money rarely tops the list. They mention the flexible hours and seeing the same patients over months instead of triaging a stranger every twelve minutes. A pace that feels human usually weighs heavier than the paycheck.

So Can an RN Actually Inject Botox?

In plenty of states the answer is yes, but it is rarely as clean as a quick search makes it look. Scope of practice law swings widely between states. Some let RNs inject under physician supervision, others want a written delegation agreement on file, and a few are flat-out restrictive. Cross a border and the picture changes again.

Before signing up for any program, know the rules in your own state. Not the version a future employer describes over coffee, but the actual statute. That means checking:

  • State nursing board regulations
  • Physician oversight and delegation requirements
  • Facility or clinic-specific policies
  • Whether the training program meets state standards

Training builds clinical skill. It does not stand in for legal compliance. Sort out the law first, then worry about everything else.

What Injector Training Actually Covers

You can’t just sign up for these programs. They’re meant for clinicians who already hold a license, so RNs, NPs, PAs, physicians, and in some states, dentists. The license gets you through the door. Everything that matters happens after.

Good programs do not hand you a loaded syringe on day one. They build judgment before technique. When I founded the Texas Academy of Medical Aesthetics, I designed our 100-plus hour internship around that idea. Our students rotate through all eight of our clinics and shadow real appointments, because no slide deck on earth teaches you how an actual face responds in the chair.

The classroom hours cover the ground you would expect, things like facial anatomy, how the products behave, how to read a patient, and how to plan a treatment. We also spend real time on what happens when something goes wrong, which too many programs gloss over. Complications are uncommon, sure, but uncommon has never meant impossible.

The hands-on portion is where the textbook meets a real face. You start by watching, then assisting, then doing it yourself with a trainer right there. That’s what separates knowing the technique from performing it without your hands shaking. And you never really finish learning.

New injectables come out, and the safety guidance keeps getting rewritten as more outcomes data comes in. A clinician who trains once and frames the certificate is already falling behind.

Why Training Quality Decides Patient Safety

Patients are handing us their faces. Not gonna lie, that raises the stakes.

Facial anatomy does not forgive guesswork. The blood vessels sit at different depths in different people, and a needle in the wrong place can leave anything from a bruise to mild asymmetry to, in the rare and serious cases, a vascular event that has to be handled right then. After enough years in practice, you can almost always tell who learned the anatomy properly and who pieced it together from videos online.

Strong training builds a few things that cannot really be separated. It starts with anatomy, the kind of knowledge that lets an injector see a problem coming instead of scrambling after it shows up. Then there is judgment, which takes far longer to develop.

Knowing when to say no, reading the patient who wants something unrealistic, walking someone back from a request that will not serve them, none of that comes from a technique video. Confidence arrives last, and only after enough supervised hours to earn it.

Put someone in front of a patient before they’ve trained next to a seasoned injector, and the risk climbs. I built InjectCo on ethics and knowing my patients, and that falls apart fast if the person holding the syringe never learned to respect what’s at stake.

Crossing Over from Bedside Nursing to Aesthetics

Nobody on my team started out in aesthetics. They came off hospital floors, out of primary care, straight from the ER. They already knew how to handle a patient. What caught most of them off guard was how differently an aesthetic practice runs as a business.

Patient relationships stretch over years, the pace bears no resemblance to acute care, and the job quietly demands skills clinical training never touched, like consultation and communication around elective procedures. A good program gives you the foundation and an honest preview of the day-to-day. Some students finish and know in their gut this is where they belong. Others realize it is not for them, and both answers are worth reaching early.

Conclusion

Aesthetic medicine tends to reward the people who walk in prepared rather than hopeful. Good botox and filler training for injectors hands a licensed clinician two things at once, the safety foundation to avoid harm, and the hands-on skill to give patients a result they notice in the mirror.

None of this comes together on a weekend, though. There is regulatory homework to do, coursework to finish, and supervised hours to log before anyone should be working alone. The clinicians who treat all of that seriously tend to build careers that last. The real question was never whether this is a viable path. It is whether you are willing to put in the foundation it asks for.

Author’s Bio

Kiara DeWitt, BSN, RN, CPN

I’m the founder of InjectCo and the Texas Academy of Medical Aesthetics, and I’m a BSN, RN, CPN. My background is nursing. I trained at Texas Christian University, then spent my first chapter as a lead clinical educator on a pediatric neurosurgery and neurology unit. I opened InjectCo back in 2021 for a pretty simple reason: I thought aesthetic medicine could be more honest, and a lot more invested in the people sitting in the chair. We’ve grown to 13 people across eight clinics now, with six in Dallas-Fort Worth and one each in Houston and Austin. I also teach our injector internship, which clocks in at over 100 hours. Most of my time these days goes to one thing, which is helping injectors across the country build practices of their own and actually grow them.

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Certification program and our CE courses as well, to see if they meet your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification