Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery

-- medications for treatment of opioid use disorder -- cvar has expanded access to treatment of opioid use disorder including the prescription of medications approved for office-based treatment. The third prescriber added in 2022 has increased his patient load in 2023 with the aim of further expanding his patient panel in 2024. Arrangement with the local hospital emergency departments continue, under a program of rapid access to medication, to accept referrals of patients who are seen and evaluated in the ed and have medication treatment started. These referrals are seen withing 24 hours (referrals made on weekends the following monday). A similar program has been developed for outpatient management of alcohol detoxification and treatment. 364 unique clients were served through this program in 2023.

-- case management -- in participation with the vt blueprint for health, we can offer case management services by a certified nurse case manager to assist clients with overcoming barriers to treatment and health such as housing, transportation, health insurance. Through a fund established with the generosity of donors we are also able to offer limited financial assistance to help defray the cost of treatment to un- and under-insured individuals. In 2023, 156 patients received support of this kind.

-- counseling services for substance use disorder -- all patients being treated for substance use disorders see a counselor for individual and/or group sessions. We have expanded our group offerings to include gender specific groups, 12 step facilitated and a telehealth group to extend access to working clients and those without transportation. We are also using telehealth technology for individual counseling, again, to expand access. Plans are being made to hire another therapist so services can be offered to patients who are not currently receiving medication from our prescribers. In 2023, there were 2016 counseling visits, including 248 group participants and 341 telehealth participants.