The Impact of SUD and Mental Health on Healthcare Costs
People with SUD and other mental health diagnosis account for 60% of all healthcare spending, with just 7% of the spending attributed to mental health services and 53% attributed to physical health. SUD-related physical health issues include emergency department visits, HIV or HEP-C treatments, repeat heart valve replacements, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, among others. If people with SUD avoid new use events, they are also more likely to avoid expensive medical interventions. [Learn More]
Customer Testimonial
"The Adult Probation Department of the Superior Court in Pima County, Arizona continues to provide drug testing for probationers at risk for use and relapse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our vendor, Averhealth, is respecting personal space and maintaining high standards of hygiene, as they did before the pandemic. Frequent testing for alcohol and illicit drugs is a key component of any effective drug treatment program. Probationers rely on drug testing for deterrence, compliance and documenting progress, and personal accountability." - Pima County Adult Probation
Drug Trends — Kratom
Officer Jermaine Galloway, better known as "The Tall Cop," will be an ongoing featured contributor to the Averhealth Digest on drug trends —providing you with highlights of street drug trends your clients may be using. If you are testing for the same drugs day after day, you are probably missing the drugs being used! Learn how to stay current on the most recent drug trends and how your drug testing program plays an integral role in your clients' recovery process. This month, Officer Galloway discusses Kratom and its rise in popularity.
The popularity of the street drug Kratom (aka Mitragyna Speciosa the plant name) has continued to increase among all age groups. This article will highlight the popularity of Kratom, the why and how it is used, its forms, and where it can be purchased.
What is Kratom? Why so popular?
Kratom is a natural herb/plant….it is NOT a synthetic. Meaning Kratom is grown and not made in a lab. Kratom is not regulated in most states (as a few states do have regulations on Kratom) and it is not a scheduled drug federally. This basically means you can purchase it in most states at retail stores or you can order it online. Most states do not have an age restriction on Kratom and there are no quantity limits for possession of it.
Why do people use it and how do people use it?
This is the big question that really can’t be completely answered in a brief article. Kratom is a natural, herbal painkiller. It is a drug that makes its way to the U.S. mostly from other countries, primarily coming from Asia. Those individuals with substance use disorder, will use it for its pain killer effects and others might use it as “addiction replacement.” Drug seekers of Kratom will use it in place of opioids and others will use it to help with opioid withdrawals. Some might use Kratom as an alternative drug knowing that it will not show up on their drug test because they are aware of what drugs they are tested for so it is important that in your drug testing program you rotate drug testing panels so you are not testing for the same drugs over and over again. Some youth (who might not fall under the above reasons) might gravitate to Kratom due to it being available in retail stores and not regulated in their state.
Basic Info
The drug Kratom will sometimes be marketed under different names or variations of those names such as: Maeng Da; Borneo; Bali; and Indo. Basically, the different names are various strains of Kratom that work differently. Also, the packaging and labeling of Kratom can look vastly different due to the fact it is not standardized or consistent.
Tall Cop Says Stop is a national & international trainer who has trained over 500,000 people. Learn more: www.tallcopsaysstop.com
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Industry News
St. Charles County Treatment Court Celebrates 20 Years of Providing Second Chances
The 11th Judicial Circuit Treatment Court in St. Charles County is celebrating 20 years of providing a critical component of criminal justice reform. This judicially supervised program is designed to help individuals with substance use disorders stay in the community while they get necessary treatment and continue to support their families. [Learn More]
COVID-19 and the opioid crisis: When a pandemic and an epidemic collide
More than 20 million people in the United States have a substance use disorder. Now, COVID-19 has left many locked down, laid off, and flooded with uncertainty. So far, experts see signs of relapses, rising overdoses, and other worries. What can be done? [Learn More]
Shatterproof launches free addiction treatment locator tool with backing from Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and UnitedHealth
Nonprofit organization Shatterproof rolled out a free online tool that helps people find high-quality addiction treatment programs. The platform, called ATLAS (Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards), was funded by Arnold Ventures and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. [Learn More]
For more information about how Averhealth is safely administering drug test during the current COVID-19 pandemic, please click here.
Need a resource?
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) open 24/7
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) open 24/7
