Value of Family Involvement in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Aligning Clinical and Financing Priorities
Published in: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Volume 132 (January 2022). doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108652
Posted on RAND.org on January 07, 2022
Background
Family members' support (e.g., informational, tangible, emotional) has important and lasting impacts on individuals' recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). Unfortunately, SUD services in the United States do not consistently incorporate patients' family members effectively. One barrier to family involvement in SUD services is the mechanisms through which SUD services in the United States are commonly financed.
Method
Using our recent experiences with developing a group intervention for support persons of patients with opioid use disorder, we illustrate how gaps in feasible financing models limit SUD service systems from effectively implementing and sustaining family services for individuals receiving SUD treatment.
Discussion
Long-term availability of family-inclusive interventions will require collaboration with payors and health systems. We offer two sets of recommendations for funding family involvement in SUD services; one set of immediately implementable recommendations and other longer-term goals requiring structural changes in SUD service delivery and financing.
Research conducted by
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