Opioid addiction has grown over the past fifteen years from a personal issue to a national emergency. A new infographic from Magellan Healthcare reveals the devastation that this epidemic is causing.

• In 2014, there were 18,893 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers
• There was a 3,203% rise insurance claims for opioid dependence diagnosis from 2007-2014
• Prescription opioid abuse is costing employers $25,000,0000 a year

The opioid addiction crisis is causing such an unprecedented amount of harm precisely because it is such a complex, multi-faceted issue. Those looking for answers as to how such an epidemic could have happened, will need to examine a swath of individual problems, including:

• The enormous quantity of prescription opiates
• The limited patient knowledge of opiate risk
• That diversion of opiates to family and friends is so common that only 20% of those with opioid abuse problems are actually using opioids prescribed to them
• The struggle to adequately assess patient’s substance use history and risk of addiction when prescribing opiates
• The lack of clear guidance as to who should receive opiates and for how long
• The difficulty in maintaining patient adherence to withdrawal management treatment plans.

New solutions are needed to tackle each of these individual issues. At Magellan Health, we intend to do precisely that. The opioid addiction crisis has already taken a huge toll and it grows worse every day. It is manifesting itself in myriad ways among thousands of communities across the nation. At Magellan Health, we have an unyielding commitment to ending this epidemic.

Written by Thomas Lane, NCPS, CRPS

What’s in a word? Much more than many of us realize.

In the context of behavioral health, substance use and even physical health challenges, using terms and phrases that group people by diagnosis, disability, disease and other characteristics perpetuates stigma, discrimination and exclusion. Yet this type of language has been part of the healthcare lexicon for decades. Outdated terms such as “addict,” “crazy” or “diabetic” are just a few common examples.

We live in a time when individuals are at the center of the healthcare field. As healthcare consumers, individuals are empowered to make their own health choices. As healthcare professionals and activists, we need to mirror this empowerment, and seize the opportunity to pivot how we portray what we do. We need to move away from archaic language that contradicts all of the positive changes we help individuals make in their lives on a daily basis.

This is where “person-first language” can make a big difference.

What is person-first language?

Person-first language means seeing people as “people first,” and not as their disease, illness or disability, or as part of a homogeneous group. It portrays individuals living with behavioral health, substance use or physical health challenges beyond a lens of illness, diagnosis and hopelessness. It helps address issues relating to illness-identity and self-stigma, keeping in mind that we are all unique individuals, with unique lived experiences.

At Magellan Health, our use of person-first language stems from our work in behavioral health, but it applies to everything we do with equal emphasis. It shows our commitment to being culturally and linguistically appropriate in all of our communications. It models our principles of recovery and resiliency, and contributes to evolving and improving our organizational culture.

On a personal level, as an individual in recovery myself I can tell you how important person-first language became to me as I discovered the often unintended consequences of using language that robs one of their individuality. We all deserve respect and appreciation for our unique qualities.

How is person-first language used?

Using person-first language is an intentional practice. Here are some examples of old language that is commonly used in comparison to newer, person-centered language that can be applied by anyone:

• From “chronic disease management” to “improving health outcomes for people living with chronic health conditions.”
• From “illness self-management” to “improving health education, support and community inclusion to promote individual wellness and self-direction.”
• From “crazy, nuts, lunatic” to “someone who may benefit from services and supports.”
• From “individuals suffering with a mental illness” to “individuals with a mental illness.”

For practice, try to recognize when others use the outdated or inappropriate terms and phrases above. And ask yourself how often you use them. Then, make the conscious choice to omit them from your vocabulary and replace them with new terms. While changing an old habit can be a challenge, consciously developing a new one is an easier path to meaningful change.

Remember, we all have choices about the words we speak and write. Those choices can either affirm the distinctive individuals that we are — or diminish us with labels. The words we use can fill us with hope, or burden us with despair. So let’s choose hope.

Changing the way you speak and write is a gradual process. But by putting the person first when you do, you can play a role in bringing our healthcare language into the 21^st century.

For more information and resources, please visit Magellan’s e-Learning Center: http://www.magellanhealth.com/training-site/home.aspx

Magellan Health marked October as Substance Abuse Prevention Month, with its chief medical officer, Dr. Karen Amstutz, releasing the following statement:

“Substance abuse does not discriminate. It pays no mind to gender, race, age or income level. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs costs the United States more than $700 billion annually related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare. Substance abuse, and in particular, our nation’s opioid epidemic, is gripping families and communities all across the country. Chances are, you know someone who is coping with substance abuse, though they might be doing so in silence.

“Magellan Health has worked in the field of behavioral health management for over 40 years, and we believe strongly that the treatment of substance abuse, including opioid misuse and addiction, is possible. Magellan Health advocates for medication assisted treatment (MAT), a well-researched and highly effective approach combining medication to treat the physical effects of opiate dependence, with counseling and recovery support services. Magellan Health is poised to support treatment professionals, legislators, third-party payers and patient advocates in the implementation of prevention efforts, best clinical practices, and elimination of potential barriers to treatment and recovery. Working together, it is important to shine a light on this dark epidemic and provide hope to people seeking to live a healthier, more vibrant life.

“If you or someone you know is dealing with substance, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Help Line at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For Magellan’s resources related to substance abuse, please visit http://magellanhealthcare.com/opioids“