Chestnut Health Systems fighting back against opioid addiction

Before the 1960s, people living with mental health conditions were sent away to hospitals or institutions. Those settings were thought to offer the best care. Mental health treatment changed dramatically in 1963, when President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Community Mental Health Act.

It established comprehensive community mental health centers throughout the country, enabling people living with mental illness to return home for treatment. The same year, local communities were given the right to levy taxes to pay for mental health services.

Up to 50% of people living with a mental health disorder also live with a substance use disorder. As a result, it became clear to treatment providers that addressing both conditions is essential.

Fortunately for local residents, the St. Clair County Mental Health Board still exists 57 years later. The Board allocates more than $2 million each year to local agencies. This year, it has awarded nearly $370,000 to fund treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) — including the use of opioids and alcohol.

The gold standard for opioid addiction treatment is medication assisted treatment paired with evidence-based counseling services. The medication works to reduce cravings and normalize brain chemistry while counseling helps to treat the underlying causes of addiction.

A lack of recovery support and transportation are common barriers for many who need treatment. Also, it may be difficult for treatment agencies to recruit health care professionals with the needed credentials to treat opioid use disorder with medication.

With funding from St. Clair County, Chestnut Health Systems has overcome both barriers in each of the last two years. Chestnut hired a qualified health care provider to treat opioid use disorder with medication.

It hired a peer recovery specialist to transport patients to medical appointments as well as use their lived experience in addiction recovery to instill hope and connect individuals to community resources. Neither was covered by other funding sources. Further, the funding enabled Chestnut to significantly increase access to medication assisted treatment.

Chestnut provides treatment to 177 people in 2018, 2019

In 2018, Chestnut provided medication assisted treatment to 60 people from St. Clair County. In 2019, the number nearly doubled — to 117 — thanks to funding from the County Mental Health Board.

Those who work in addiction treatment see first-hand the costs of opioids to people’s physical and mental health. We see the toll it takes on families, friends, and others who care. Ideally, the national opioid crisis would end and there would no longer be a need for treatment.

Until then, we are grateful for agencies like the St. Clair County Mental Health Board for enabling agencies like Chestnut to provide help to those who desperately need it.