The Role of Integrated Behavioral Health
Treating and Preventing Opioid Addiction
The opioid epidemic is now
a more frequent cause of death
than car crashes.
Every day,
115
Americans die of an
opioid overdose.
Approximately
80% of individuals
with an opioid use disorder don't receive treatment.
in 2015 alone,
the epidemic cost
$504
billion,
or 2.8% of the GDP.
Integrated services in health care settings
decrease opioid prescribing, expand access to treatment of opioid addiction, and improve treatment outcomes.
There are evidence-based youth programs
in school and community settings that prevent opioid misuse and dependence from ever developing.
We can enable integrated solutions to the opioid epidemic by:
- Removing financial and regulatory barriers to integration
- Reinforcing behavioral health parity legislation
- Integrating data and sharing information across sectors
- Growing and appropriating distribution of the behavioral health workforce
- Reducing stigma
