Results for: Substance Use Disorder

Despite the easing of restrictions on prescribing buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, the number of patients taking the medication has barely increased. Researchers attribute this to barriers such as insurance hurdles, cost, lack of availability in pharmacies, and stigma around opioid addiction. While the number of prescribers has risen significantly, the researchers urge the government to encourage and compel healthcare providers to offer more treatment options to address the ongoing overdose crisis.

Pelago, a renowned digital clinic partnered with U.S. businesses and health plans for substance use management, recently announced the integration of cannabis into its specialized substance use disorder (SUD) treatments. This groundbreaking program, set to be fully implemented by Q3 2024, expands Pelago’s current digital substance use treatment solutions, which focus on tobacco, alcohol, and opioids. The program launch stems from Pelago’s recent $58 million funding round and marks the first large-scale digital cannabis use treatment program in the United States. Pelago’s cannabis program aims to address the rising prevalence of cannabis use disorders (CUDs) while simultaneously tackling the decline in treatment rates. By implementing evidence-based and clinically sound approaches, Pelago empowers individuals who use cannabis to understand its impact on their health and facilitates informed decision-making. The program leverages cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy/interviewing at launch, with plans to incorporate contingency management in 2024.