Texans with substance use disorders who work with a peer recovery coach for a minimum of 12 months remain abstinent or reduce their substance use, improve their housing and employment status and reduce their overall use of health care services, according to a new report from social work researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.
Addiction to alcohol or drugs affects millions of people in the United States, and drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under age 50. When it comes to treatment, much of the public discussion is still focused on admission to a detox facility, followed by a short-term stay in “rehab.” But addiction treatment experts emphasize the need to shift away from this acute care model and toward long-term recovery models. As with other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, substance use disorders require ongoing care and support services encompassing the whole health of the individual.
[For more of this story go to https://news.utexas.edu/2017/0...e-addiction-in-texas]
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