The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Deaths from prescription opioid abuse have more than quadrupled since 1999, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency.[1] But while discussions around opioid abuse prevention have intensified, numerous barriers to recovery continue to exist.

For example, one of the most effective ways to combat opioid addiction is through medication-assisted treatment (MAT), an evidence-based approach that combines medication with psychosocial intervention. MAT empowers those suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) to recover from their addiction while rebuilding their lives.

However, the stigma often related to MAT—on the part of both the medical community and addiction support professionals as well as family members of patients—continues to limit its use across the industry. Further, the need to educate communities and legislators about the complex issues surrounding addiction treatment cannot be overstated. Addiction should be considered a chronic condition, and such treatments need to be viewed the same way.

You can read the rest of the article on pages 24-25 in Advances in Addiction & Recovery.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC)

One out of four patients who receive long-term opioid therapy in primary care settings struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD), according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research. While conversations around opioid addiction are beginning to impact physician prescribing patterns, there is still much progress to be made around treatment and recovery solutions for those battling OUD.

One important option that requires greater attention: the need to leverage an integrated team approach in opioid treatment and recovery.

Recent research points to the value of a holistic approach to opioid recovery delivered in a community setting. Such an approach may include relapse prevention medications; group and individual counseling; physician visits for medication management; mental health therapy; and psychiatric treatment for cooccurring disorders. But there are barriers to accessing holistic opioid recovery treatment within the patient’s community. Such barriers can include lack of mental health resources, stigmas associated with certain treatment options, limited availability of specialized providers, difficulties navigating the complexities of substance abuse treatment, and insufficient capacity.

Overcoming the challenges to a holistic approach to opioid recovery is critical to engaging patients safely and comfortably and supporting sustained recovery. The following five elements contribute to a successful integrated approach.

You can read the rest of the article in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC).

The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC)

More than 46 Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses every day, while the number of deaths from prescription opioids has more than quadrupled since 1999. Lack of expertise on how to measure and treat pain is a large factor driving the crisis. In addition, challenges in identifying those who are at risk for opioid abuse or who are already dependent on opioids adds further complexity.

Americans consume 80% of opioid painkillers produced worldwide. Yet the amount of pain reported hasn’t changed since in the past 2 decades, according to the CDC. For physicians, this points to the need to reconsider when to prescribe an opioid—if at all. Providers face intense pressures to adequately treat pain and may not know the data that supports nonopioid therapies.

Breaking the cycle of prescription opioid abuse requires new thinking around pain management and alternative options for helping patients deal with chronic pain. The following are 6 things physicians should consider before prescribing an opioid.

You can read the rest of this article in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC)

This article first appeared on KevinMD.com. You can read it here.

After being prescribed opioids for just one day, individuals can face significant challenges with addiction, with six percent continuing to use opioids a year later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The likelihood of long-term use increases sharply after five days of use.

While much of the discussion around the opioid epidemic has centered on the challenges of opioid use and recovery, to get to the root of this national public health emergency, providers must focus on diminishing the risk of addiction before patients take their first dose.

How can providers best help patients reduce the probability of addiction when prescribing opioids? There are five key strategies providers should consider as a first line of protection against dependence and addiction.

Pair patients with chronic pain management coaches. Ideally, this step should be considered before an opioid is prescribed. Pain management coaches use digital therapy and motivational interviewing to help patients manage their pain without turning to opioids. When patients are prescribed a short-term dose of opioids, pain management coaches can be used to help transition patients off opioids by teaching techniques to manage pain without turning to opioids.

Partner with behavioral health experts who can identify patients who are most at risk of addiction. To avoid an opioid addiction before it starts, providers must understand the factors that increase patients’ risk of becoming addicted. These include behavioral health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder—conditions that contribute to the experience of pain. Look for tools that can help identify patients’ behavioral health risk factors at the point of care, and establish partnerships with behavioral health professionals that help ensure patients also have access to pyschosocial treatment as needed. Some behavioral health solutions enable patients to participate in their treatment virtually, providing access to care for rural patients for whose availability to local behavioral health resources presents greater challenges.

Follow best practices on dosing limits. Ensure the morphine milligram equivalent dose and duration of treatment prescribed follow CDC and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) best practices. Consider non-opiate alternatives before prescribing opioids, and carefully evaluate whether long- or short-acting opioids should be used based on CDC and evidence-based guidance.

It’s also important to collaborate with payers and pharmacists to gain visibility into patients’ past history of opioid use and evidence of previous substance abuse prior to writing a prescription. Patients who are at high risk of becoming addicted to opioids include those who have faced challenges with addiction in the past and who frequently visit the emergency department for pain relief. This information could help determine whether opioids are prescribed and, if so, the specific dose and duration of treatment.

Proactively engage patients in their treatment. Educate patients on the use of non-opioid medications that are just as effective as opioids.  When opioids are necessary, talk to patients who have been prescribed opioids for the first time on how they work, the risks of opioid use, and how to use opioids appropriately to reduce the risk of addiction. Consider this being much like informed consent before any medical procedure. Look for ways to engage patients not only in managing their use of opioids, but also in managing their physical and behavioral health, before, during and after using opioids.

Offer 24/7 access to healthcare professionals for patients who have been prescribed opioids. Doing so will provide a critical resource for patients who need help understanding their opioid prescription or feel as if they have a problem managing their response to their medication. Know your state’s Good Samaritan laws to ensure users of opioids that it is safe for them to seek care. Consider a hotline for opioid-using patients, staffed by nurses or an outside service to give patients and providers instant access to expert guidance.

Best practices for a complex challenge

As the opioid crisis continues to evolve, understanding the factors that place patients at highest risk of addiction before opioids are prescribed is key. Taking proactive measures to evaluate whether opioids are truly needed and how to best manage patients’ use of and response to these highly addictive drugs is critical to helping patients avoid serious health complications and live healthy, vibrant lives.

Today, much of the conversation around opioid use focuses on ways to more tightly control access, including limits on usage and the mandatory use of databases that can alert physicians to patients’ opioid histories. But for those suffering from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), combatting addiction is a difficult feat, particularly due to treatment barriers, lack of qualified providers, and waitlists for evidence-based treatments.

Read the rest of this article here

Every day in the news we hear about the devastating impact of the opioid crisis across the country. While we need to confront this complicated crisis, we also need to examine the larger issue of substance use disorders (SUD) that impact millions of Americans.

This past September, I had the honor to represent Magellan Health at the first meeting of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Task Force, founded by Shatterproof. The mission of the task force is, “To fundamentally improve substance use disorder treatment in the United States, in terms of both quality and patient outcomes.” It also addresses the underlying cause of our country’s current substance use crisis, and lack of access to quality and evidence-based treatment. The task force has been created to expand access to quality treatment for the estimated 21 million Americans with SUD.

This task force is unique in that it convenes public and private healthcare companies, advocates and former government officials to take the lead in developing a tactical plan with measurable goals for payers to follow and implement. I am proud to be joined by so many colleagues and experts across the industry.

Our first focus is to implement the recommendations outlined in the November 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Secondly, we will utilize methods outlined in a 2006 report from the Institute of Medicine which recommends the need for a group of government regulators, accrediting organizations, consumer representatives, providers and purchasers to come together to develop a common, continually improving set of quality measures, specifically for mental health and substance use disorders.

The work of this task force aligns nicely with our efforts at Magellan, helping lead individuals to healthy, vibrant lives. Working with individuals with SUD, from both the behavioral health and the pharmacy benefits management perspective, we are in a unique position to help address these issues. I believe we can make significant contributions on this task force and for the benefit of our customers, members and providers with whom we work.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, comes in many forms and affects children and adults alike. Early descriptions of PTSD are found throughout literature. The hallmarks of war-related PTSD were described in Homer’s The Iliad. Shakespeare wrote of the symptoms in Henry IV and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In recent times, books such as The Things They Carried (Tim O’Brien) describe the effects of war and the risk for PTSD-related suicide. Movies such as Ordinary People and Mystic River portray the effects that loss and abuse have on families and individuals. The daily ease of access to images on the internet and television puts the fodder for PTSD in front of all exposed to electronic media. We have only to listen to the news to learn of all the possible inputs that can cause PTSD—the tornado that sweeps through a Midwest town, atrocities happening to people in places such as Syria, beheadings, and stories of abused children. PTSD can affect one individual at a time, or a lone event can bring PTSD into the lives of many with a single swath.

Prevalence of PTSD in the U.S.

PTSD is common. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans is 6.8 percent (National Comorbidity Survey Replication). For adolescents, the six month prevalence was estimated to be at 3.7 percent for boys and 6.3 percent for girls (Kirkpatrick, 2003). The prevalence is much higher among Veterans. Men and women who had served in the Vietnam War have a lifetime prevalence of 30.9 percent and 26.9 percent, respectively. Studies of Gulf War Veterans reported a current prevalence of 12.1 percent, and 13.8 percent for Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kang, et al 2003; RAND Corporation 2008). Unfortunately, PTSD is often underdiagnosed in the medical setting—with symptoms being attributed to a “normal” response to a trauma, misdiagnosed as depression, or altogether missed because of the physical presentation of the condition.

PTSD Symptoms and Impacts

PTSD symptoms are not limited to only the emotional, but also bring physical impairment in many forms. The condition affects those people supporting the individual with PTSD, often causing distress to family, friends, and colleagues. It is important not to approach PTSD with a single point of view — the victim of a natural disaster may have different experiences and risk factors than a combat veteran, for example. What is the same, however, is a set of symptoms based in some form of exposure to a traumatic event, resulting in significant distress and impairment in an individual’s ability to perform in her or his roles, whether within family, employment, or other social units.

No matter the cause, the response to a traumatic event is similar, whether described in the 8^th Century BC, or in 2016. In 2013, the American Psychological Association updated the criteria used to diagnose PTSD. According to current diagnostic criteria, the diagnosis of and symptoms attributable to PTSD must include at least one month of:

• Direct exposure to a stressor; witnessing the stressor in person; indirectly learning of a loved one exposed to a violent or accidental circumstance; and/or repeated or extreme indirect exposure to aversive details of the event, typically by a professional exposed to the stressor (e.g. first responders)
• Persistent and intrusive re-experience of the event through memories, nightmares, flashbacks (e.g. dissociative reactions), distress after exposure to a reminder of the stressor, and physiological reactivity after exposure to a trauma-related stimuli (e.g. jumping up after hearing a door bang unexpectedly)
• Avoidance of distressing trauma-related stimuli, including thoughts or feelings, and/or trauma-related external reminders such as situations or people
• A negative effect on thoughts and mood, including an inability to recall features of the trauma; persistent negative beliefs; persistent and distorted self-blame and/or blaming others; persistent negative emotions such as fear or anger; diminished interest or pleasure in activities; feeling detached or estranged from others; and having a persistent inability to experience positive emotions
• Alterations in physiological arousal or reactivity including irritable or aggressive behavior; self-destructive or reckless behavior; hypervigilence; exaggerated startle response, problems in concentration, and/or sleep disturbance
• Distress or functional impairment in relationships, social, and occupational roles

What PTSD Feels Like

PTSD doesn’t always occur immediately after the traumatic event. In fact, in some cases, the diagnosis may not be made for up to six months with the gradual onset of the full symptoms. Some individuals with PTSD develop dissociative symptoms as the primary feature of the condition. Those affected describe a sense of being an outside observer or detached from oneself (depersonalization), and/or the sense that things are not real or are distorted (derealization). See the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for a detailed description of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Unfortunately, PTSD predisposes affected individuals to other behaviors that can be emotionally and physically harmful. Persons with PTSD are more likely than persons without PTSD to develop alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder, including tobacco, pain medications, and illicit drugs. Nearly half of people with PTSD can suffer co-occurring depression. Physical symptoms and conditions associated with PTSD include cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and musculoskeletal symptoms.

While it is very difficult to predict who will develop PTSD, some factors may increase the risk of developing the symptoms, including:

• Getting physically hurt during the trauma
• Seeing another person get hurt or killed
• Having childhood trauma
• Having a sense of horror or helplessness during the trauma
• Having little or no social support after the event
• Dealing with additional stressors after the event, such as losing a loved one, ongoing pain or injury, or loss of one’s job or home.

Taking Care of Oneself after Trauma

While trauma impacts everyone differently, there are some ways to reduce the risk of developing PTSD. Examples include:

• Seeking out support from other people, including friends and family
• Talking about the trauma soon after it occurs
• Attending a support group with others who may have had similar experiences
• Learning how to acknowledge and accept your actions in the face of the trauma
• Having a positive coping strategy; being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear

PTSD does not have a cure, but symptoms can be managed to help an individual function better in day to day life. The recommended treatment of PTSD largely is based on the use of medication and psychotherapy. The earlier treatment is started, the more likely the treatment will have positive effects. Combinations of medication, psychotherapy and support are typically the most effective way to ameliorate symptoms.

Therapy for PTSD

Several therapy types have been shown to reduce the physiologic responses to stimuli, or alleviate intrusive thoughts by teaching a person the skills to identify triggers in order to better manage their symptoms.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD. In addition to educating people of their symptoms, cognitive behavioral therapy can also include prolonged exposure (PE) therapy to address the traumatic event. During PE one gradually approaches trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that have been avoided since the trauma. By confronting these challenges, PTSD symptoms decrease.
• Novel treatments for PTSD include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This is a form of psychotherapy that involves the patient paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound while thinking about the upsetting memory long enough for it to become less distressing. During EMDR, one learns about their physical and emotional reactions to trauma, targeting the upsetting memory, discussing the memory, and ultimately focusing on a positive belief or feeling while the memory is in one’s mind.
• Cognitive restructuring or processing therapy helps the affected person work through faulty memories of the trauma, and challenges their interpretations of the event, experience of the event, and beliefs that life is full of ongoing danger. Cognitive processing therapy teaches new ways to handle upsetting thoughts and to develop a new perspective on both past and future.

Other therapies include training in relaxation and anger-control skills, group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, implementing an exercise program, and sleep hygiene. While often tempting in the short-term, it is essential to avoid self-medication with alcohol or other substances such as pain killers that often are habit forming, and may exacerbate symptoms.

When approaching our programs, we at Magellan recognize the importance of identifying PTSD symptoms early on. We hope to spread the understanding that one’s response to trauma does not reflect failure, or weakness in character. Rather, we believe that raising awareness and understanding of PTSD is essential to tackling this condition, which affects so many Americans. As we move forward in developing and integrating new programs, we are keenly interested in supporting individuals, families and healthcare providers to increase access to resources for PTSD education, treatment and support.

Looking for more information on PTSD support? Click here for a list of resources and tips, or call 1-800-273-TALK if you are in crisis.

A study by a team of Magellan researchers, demonstrating the pervasiveness of opioid addiction, was featured on CBS Philly (KYW).

The study, an analysis of medical and pharmacy data from 2009—2012 for 2.5 million people aged 20-64 who were part of a commercial health plan, showed that 48 percent of patients who had stopped using opioids for at least six months went on to use them again.

You can read more about the study by clicking here.