ADAMHS Board gets funds for opiate treatment

The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board received $314,000 in federal funding to expand its Opiate Recovery Transition Program.

The ADAMHS Board invested local funds to launch the program this March. The program’s collaborators include Lake Health, Windsor-Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Medicine, LakeGeauga Recovery Centers and Signature Health.

The program helps Lake County residents who are “ready to commit to ongoing treatment for their opioid dependency,” according to the ADAMHS Board. So far program eligibility requirement include that residents be on Medicaid. The new funds will allow people with no insurance to access the services.

The road to the Opiate Recovery Transition Program begins when a person comes to the Lake Health Emergency Department with symptoms of Severe Opiate Use disorder as their primary clinical presentation, according to the ADAMHS Board. After medical clearance, a Lake Health Crisis Intervention Team member and the ADAMHS system’s behavioral health liaison collaborate to

determine if a program referral is warranted.

If approved, the patient is transported to WindsorLaurelwood for a sevenday withdrawal management period. Prior to discharge, the person receives their first injection of Vivitrol, a non-addictive, once monthly medication that can help prevent relapse. Counseling and longer-term outpatient treatment is arranged either through Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers or Signature Health.

ADAMHS Board Director Kim Fraser said the program is one of several available in Lake County, adding that there is no “one-size fits all” answer to addiction recovery.

“The best way for people to explore options is to call our Compass Line at 440350-2000 or 440-918-2000. A triage specialist helps callers sort through their situations and get connected firmly and quickly with the right resources,” she said in a statement.

The $314,000 comes from the 21st Century CURES Act. Ohio as a whole recently received $26 million in 21st Century CURES Act funding. Over the course of two years, roughly $1 billion is being allocated nationally to battle the opioid epidemic.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funding will support a “comprehensive array” of prevention, treatment and recovery services depending on the needs of recipients. Funding is being issued to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., as well as four U.S. territories and the free associated states of Palau and Micronesia. The states and territories were awarded funds based on rates of overdose deaths and unmet need for opioid addiction treatment.

“Addiction is a nasty enemy to do battle with, but we and our community partners are working hard and we’re making some important inroads,” Fraser said.