Bridging the Gaps, Inc.’s Post

The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act is a legislative proposal aimed at improving access to treatment for opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders. Introduced in recent years, the MAT Act seeks to eliminate certain barriers that hinder the availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). ### Key Features of the MAT Act: 1. **Elimination of the X-Waiver Requirement**: One of the most significant changes proposed by the MAT Act is the elimination of the X-waiver requirement for prescribing buprenorphine. Currently, physicians must complete a specific training and obtain a waiver to prescribe this medication. The MAT Act aims to allow all qualified healthcare providers to prescribe buprenorphine without this additional barrier. 2. **Expanded Access to Treatment**: By removing the X-waiver requirement, the MAT Act seeks to increase the number of healthcare providers who can offer MAT, thereby improving access to treatment for individuals struggling with opioid addiction. 3. **Integration into General Practice**: The MAT Act encourages the integration of addiction treatment into primary care and other medical settings, making it easier for patients to receive comprehensive care without needing to visit specialized addiction treatment centers. 4. **Focus on Public Health**: The legislation emphasizes treating substance use disorders as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal justice issue, promoting a more compassionate and effective approach to addiction treatment. 5. **Support for Various Providers**: In addition to physicians, the MAT Act also aims to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals to prescribe MAT, further expanding the workforce available to address the opioid crisis. The MAT Act represents a significant step toward reducing stigma and increasing access to effective treatments for addiction. If you have any more questions or need further details about the MAT Act or related topics, feel free to ask!

In 2021, I met Mike Klingen, the founder of Daily Dose Systems, to discuss his passion for leveraging technology to support addiction recovery. Mike passed away a few months later from COVID-19 and his passing was likely due to the damage his body had incurred from his early alcohol abuse. Mike had been admitted to addiction recovery centers 22 times. At the same time, someone within my own extended family had relapsed after a lifelong struggle and nearly a decade of sobriety. Today, that individual is still incarcerated. Addiction devastates lives and families - we all have our own stories. It’s something that over 43 million Americans currently struggle with, and post treatment relapse rates can be as high as 70%. It's always been my hope to do something about this illness. Today, I am honored to announce that my company, Axio AI, is partnering with Daily Dose Systems to launch a new platform next week called Daily Dose, in honor of Mike Klingen’s original vision of helping people, like him, stay sober. As many of you know, Axio is primarily focused on building the world's most advanced learning system. While that won't change, we recognized that our underlying intellectual property could drive many unique use-cases. Daily Dose was identified as the best inaugural partner to demonstrate how we can scale the impact of our technology to millions, particularly in a focused area driven by impact and purpose. Daily Dose will be a 24/7 AI alcohol and substance abuse Sponsor, a digital companion designed to walk alongside individuals on their journey to lasting sobriety. To help keep sobriety on track, Daily Dose will gently suggest daily tasks aligned with life goals and can connect users to live virtual AA and NA meetings whenever they need that crucial sense of community. Aligned with Axio’s core mission – Daily Dose will also be committed to nurturing learning. It can guide users in acquiring new skills, expanding knowledge, and tending to their overall health – from nutrition and fitness to mental well-being. Daily Dose brings a wealth of experience in addiction prevention and recovery to this partnership, backed by a world-class management team. Their dedication to making a difference will be evident in the thoughtful marketing campaign they're preparing, aimed at reaching those who stand to benefit most from this innovative support system. We're set to officially unveil Daily Dose next week. I invite you to join us in this mission to make lasting recovery a reality for millions. Chris Spinella Sarah Sehgal Michael Lang, JD, PhD, MBA Steven Stralser Ph.D. Ethan Bindelglas, MD Greg Vogel Michael Klingen Richard Spinella

THE HUNGRY GHOST: A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON ADDICTION, FROM HEROIN TO WORKAHOLISM Based on the book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction For twelve years Dr. Maté was the staff physician at a clinic for drug-addicted people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where he worked with patients challenged by hard-core drug addiction, mental illness, and HIV, including at Vancouver Supervised Injection Site. In his most recent bestselling book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts, he shows that their addictions do not represent a discrete set of medical disorders; rather, they merely reflect the extreme end of a continuum of addiction, mostly hidden, that runs throughout our society. In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts draws on cutting-edge science to illuminate where and how addictions originate and what they have in common. Contrary to what is often claimed, the source of addictions is not to be found in genes, but in the early childhood environment where the neurobiology of the brain’s reward pathways develops and where the emotional patterns that lead to addiction are wired into the unconscious. Stress, both then and later in life, creates the predisposition for addictions, whether to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or behavioral addictions such as shopping or sex. Helping the addicted individual requires that we appreciate the function of the addiction in his or her life. More than a disease, the addiction is a response to a distressing life history and life situation. Once we recognize the roots of addiction and the lack it strives (in vain) to fill, we can develop a compassionate approach toward the addict, one that stands the best chance of restoring him or her to wholeness and health. https://lnkd.in/dmyt9gjj

Rural Coloradans need greater access to opioid addiction treatment and a new federal bill would help. Allowing addiction medicine specialists to prescribe methadone would improve the availability of a lifesaving treatment. Imagine your doctor diagnoses you or one of your family members with a significant health condition that, if left untreated, results in a sixfold higher risk of death and results in debilitating mental and physical health symptoms. Fortunately, there is a well-established, inexpensive medication that is guaranteed to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the risk of death by 50%. Surely you or your family member can access this medication readily, yes? If the diagnosis is opioid addiction, and that lifesaving medicine is methadone, the answer is, unfortunately, no. This is the situation people with opioid use disorder (i.e., opioid addiction) who struggle with heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pain medications and happen to live in many suburban and rural communities in Colorado face as they seek lifesaving treatment. Methadone, a medication developed in the 1940s, is the most effective medication for opioid use disorder. Learn more by clicking the article link below. https://lnkd.in/gqXwHzuu

Supporting Youth & Families in Recovery from Addiction and Co-Occurring Disorders Presenter: Jordana Willers, Ed.M Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Live-Webinar / 9:30 - 3:30 (ET) FREE Webinar includes 5 continuing education credits https://cvent.me/PelyLe How can we best support families in recovery, particularly when youth are involved? The first half of this training will focus on ways to engage and support family members caring for youth and young adults who are struggling with addiction or in recovery. Topics covered include: reframing addiction as a chronic family disease, understanding parental challenges, and understanding risk factors for youth substance use disorders. We will review strategies to educate, support, and involve families in the recovery process. We will also learn about evidence-based best practices to help families engage their loved ones in substance use treatment while reducing their own pain, anger, and worry. We will also review resources to support families in recovery (and youth and young adult treatment services and supports). The second half of the training will focus on the impact of adult substance use disorders on children, teens, and young adults in the family. We will explore ways to engage and support families where there are multi-generational substance use disorders. Best practices to support youth impacted by parental substance use when caregivers have not yet committed to recovery, as well as ways to work with parents/caregivers who are in active recovery, will be explored. Resources to support both youth impacted by parental substance use disorders and resources to support parents/caregivers in need of treatment and recovery will be discussed. We will also review strategies for self-care while working with families struggling with, and recovering from, addiction and co-occurring disorders Jordana Willers, Ed.M., is the Youth & Young Adult Training Coordinator for the Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR), a statewide policy, program / systems development, training, services and research organization. In this role, she provides trainings, technical assistance, and support for youth and young adult substance use treatment programs and works collaboratively with youth-serving systems and state agencies across Massachusetts, in partnership with DPH/BSAS (Bureau of Substance Addiction Services).

💡 We've Been Hearing It From Clients: Ozempic and Its Role in Addiction Recovery NPR recently highlighted the potential of Ozempic (semaglutide) for reducing cravings in addiction recovery—a conversation that’s not new to those of us in the field. Clients have been sharing how impactful this medication has been for them, reporting noticeable changes in cravings within just a week of use. The barriers? Cost and access. While it’s widely prescribed for weight loss, finding a prescriber willing to explore its off-label potential for addiction remains a challenge. From my perspective—shaped by listening to my clients—I see a need for more research and open discussions about how medications like semaglutide could save lives. While I’m not a doctor and cannot prescribe or promote its use, I believe we should take our clients’ experiences seriously and explore all possible tools to support recovery. Want to dive deeper into this topic? I’ve shared my thoughts and the link to the NPR article in this blog post: https://lnkd.in/g-FcgK8n Let’s discuss: Have you or your organization seen similar reports or trends? How can we work to break down the barriers to innovative treatment options? #AddictionRecovery #SUDTreatment #InnovationInCare

THE HUNGRY GHOST: A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON ADDICTION, FROM HEROIN TO WORKAHOLISM Based on the book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction For twelve years Dr. Maté was the staff physician at a clinic for drug-addicted people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where he worked with patients challenged by hard-core drug addiction, mental illness, and HIV, including at Vancouver Supervised Injection Site. In his most recent bestselling book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts, he shows that their addictions do not represent a discrete set of medical disorders; rather, they merely reflect the extreme end of a continuum of addiction, mostly hidden, that runs throughout our society. In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts draws on cutting-edge science to illuminate where and how addictions originate and what they have in common. Contrary to what is often claimed, the source of addictions is not to be found in genes, but in the early childhood environment where the neurobiology of the brain’s reward pathways develops and where the emotional patterns that lead to addiction are wired into the unconscious. Stress, both then and later in life, creates the predisposition for addictions, whether to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or behavioral addictions such as shopping or sex. Helping the addicted individual requires that we appreciate the function of the addiction in his or her life. More than a disease, the addiction is a response to a distressing life history and life situation. Once we recognize the roots of addiction and the lack it strives (in vain) to fill, we can develop a compassionate approach toward the addict, one that stands the best chance of restoring him or her to wholeness and health. https://lnkd.in/gHcZiNgT

Effective Treatment Approaches for Women with Alcohol Addiction Alcohol addiction affects women differently than men, yet many women feel isolated in their struggles—hiding their drinking from loved ones and carrying the weight of societal and family pressures. At Avery Lane, we recognize that healing requires a specialized, gender-responsive approach. Women face unique challenges, from biological and hormonal factors to trauma and emotional history. That’s why we provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care designed to support women at every stage of recovery. Our evidence-based and holistic therapies—including CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and nutrition support—help women reclaim their lives in a safe, all-women environment. Whether you or someone you know needs detox, inpatient, or outpatient care, we’re here to help. ✨ Breaking the stigma starts with education and support. Read our latest article to learn more about effective treatment approaches for women with alcohol addiction, and share it to help spread awareness. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/g4WsA8_Z 📞 Need support? Contact us today.

Does collaboration improve client outcomes? ＹＥＳ Collaboration in addiction medicine is essential for providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. Addiction is a complex, multifaceted condition that affects individuals physically, psychologically, spiritually, and socially. Given the nature of the disease, treating it requires a holistic approach that integrates the expertise of various healthcare professionals, each contributing their unique skills and perspectives. One of the primary pillars of collaboration in addiction medicine is the multidisciplinary team, which often includes addiction specialists, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, peers, family, and counselors. Each member of the team plays a vital role in addressing the multiple dimensions of addiction, such as medical management, mental health support, and social rehabilitation. For example, addiction specialists focus on assessing the severity of the addiction, recommending appropriate pharmacological treatments, and monitoring progress. Psychiatrists and psychologists may address co-occurring mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression, which are common in people with substance use disorders. Social workers can connect patients with community resources, support systems, and rehabilitation programs. Nurses and counselors provide continuous support, education, and therapy, ensuring patients consistently engage in treatment. Moreover, collaboration extends beyond the clinical team to include family members and community organizations. Family involvement is often crucial for the patient’s recovery, as loved ones can provide emotional support and foster accountability. Community-based programs, such as 12-step groups or sober living homes, also play an integral role in long-term recovery and reintegration into society. Effective communication is central to the success of collaborative care in addiction medicine. Regular case discussions, treatment plan updates, and shared decision-making ensure that all team members are aligned and that the patient’s needs are consistently addressed from all angles. Collaboration in addiction medicine enhances patient outcomes by fostering a comprehensive, team-oriented approach. By pooling expertise across different domains, healthcare providers can offer more effective, personalized care, ultimately improving the chances of recovery for individuals struggling with addiction. Speranza Therapeutics understands the need for multidisciplinary collaborations to improve client outcomes. Thank you to all of our excellent partners! #addictionmedicine #innovation #collaboration #nurses Wendy Soffel-Benstock Cole J Feltman Scott Daniel Sal Rafanelli RPh Lauren Saccone Alba Curro