Trying to get sober? NIH offers tool to help find good care
- By lauran neergaard, ap medical writer
The phone calls come — from fellow scientists and desperate strangers — with a single question for the alcohol chief at the National Institutes of Health: Where can my loved one find good care to get sober?
Tuesday, the government is releasing a novel online tool to help —
directories of alcohol treatment providers paired with key questions
patients should ask for a better shot at high-quality care.
"Most people think treatment is detox for 28 days or Alcoholics Anonymous. There's a vast in-between," said George Koob, director of NIH's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
More than 15 million adults in the U.S. have what's called alcohol use
disorder, meaning they either misuse or are addicted to alcohol, and
fewer than 10 percent get treatment, according to federal estimates.
Many who do get treated don't receive quality care that best fits their
needs, Koob said. He ordered development of the Alcohol Treatment
Navigator after realizing if medical professionals were confused,
families must be lost.
"It's the hardest thing, navigating how do you find treatment," agreed
Linda Rosenberg, president of the nonprofit National Council for
Behavioral Health. She wasn't involved with the tool but praised NIAAA
for developing it. "It's desperately needed."
The tool can't solve issues of affordability or accessibility. Insurance
coverage varies, and some parts of the country have shortages of
providers that may leave patients traveling or turning to telemedicine,
Rosenberg cautioned.
The Navigator offers a step-by-step guide to assessing additional
options beyond the well-known AA and detox. First, it links to existing
directories of thousands of board-certified addiction doctors or
psychiatrists, accredited alcohol treatment centers and licensed
therapists, searchable by ZIP code. Licensing and accreditation
information mark an initial filter.
Next, the NIH defined five signs of quality to check:
—Credentials. For example, look for a therapist who holds at least a
master's degree and has specialized training in addiction treatment, the
tool advises.
—A comprehensive assessment. Providers can use a battery of tests to determine the type and severity of alcohol disorders.
—Customized treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, Koob stressed.
—Evidence-based practices. NIH wants patients to consider scientifically
proven options, including behavioral therapies and three FDA-approved
medications.
—Continuing recovery support. "It's not just an acute disorder," said
Lori Ducharme, a NIAAA specialist who led the Navigator's development.
"You want someone who will stick with you for the long-term."
How do you know if a potential provider meets those quality indicators?
"You need to call them and ask them questions to see if they'll be the right fit for you," Ducharme said.
The Navigator provides a script, lists of questions targeted to each
type of provider plus an explanation of why each question is important
and what answer to listen for.
For example, addiction is a disease, not a weakness, so watch out for
providers who use stigmatizing language such as "drunk," the tool
advises. And if a provider automatically dismisses medication, that's a
warning sign about not practicing evidence-based care.
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