Massachusetts Program Takes a Stab at the Opioid Crisis
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Massachusetts Program Takes a Stab at the Opioid Crisis

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opioid crisisThe opioid epidemic is getting worse in Massachusetts. We reported on this back in 2015, when more than twice as many residents died after an unintentional overdose than during 2012. Now, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), those numbers are still rising and lawmakers and recovery advocates are scrambling to find a fix. One of these solutions includes targeting those who may have gotten accidentally addicted to opiates. A recent article in The Salem News revealed workers injured on the job in Massachusetts receive more prescriptions for opioids than 25 other states. Massachusetts also led the pack with the percentage of prescriptions written for Oxycodone (Oxy has a reputation for being commonly misused by those with chronic pain).

I’m skeptical of anybody who claims to have become an addict purely by accident, but I do believe some circumstances beyond our control can contribute to addiction. Until doctors start regularly screening for addictive potential before prescribing opioids, other solutions should be explored. That’s exactly what Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker thinks, too. Baker is behind a new two-year pilot program in Mass designed for people with workers’ comp cases who are being treated with opioid medication, but whose insurance company wants to stop payment for the meds. These types of cases can take months to resolve, and all the while the worker continues to be prescribed opioids.

True Story

This rabbit hole is one Jimmy Duran went down. In the News article, Duran recounts becoming addicted to prescription pills after being injured at his job as a mover. His initial six-week prescription for Percocet lasted him only a month, so Duran went to a different doc, who sounds shady as hell. This guy prescribed him a shit load of pills, including methadone, Oxycontin, morphine and Valium. This continued every month for nearly five years. Duran’s insurance kept paying and, because he figured only heroin junkies get strung out, Duran didn’t realize he was addicted to his prescription pills. Even after blowing his six-figure worker’s comp settlement in less than a year, being evicted from his apartment and selling cocaine to fund his prescription pill habit, Duran’s insurance kept paying.

When the insurance finally ran out, Duran was totally strung out. He got busted for dealing and served two years in jail after being caught with 140 bags of cocaine in South Boston in 2011. When he left prison, he went straight into a residential treatment program at Gavin House. He has since become a LADC through the University of Massachusetts and continues to work at Gavin House helping other addicts. Luckily, Duran’s story has a happy ending, but the goal of the new pilot program proposed by the Baker administration is to help people avoid going down this road in the first place.

Saving Lives

The new program specifically targets those like Duran, whose workers’ compensation cases have been settled, but who are still being prescribed opiates. Often, when the insurance company stops paying, the insured will file an appeal. The appeal process is like any other bureaucratic tangle of red tape and typically takes months to finalize. The new program is designed to fast-track the process of settling these disputes, help find alternative treatments and get people off drugs sooner. It is completely voluntary and can be initiated by the injured worker or the insurance carrier. At any time, either party can withdraw and re-enter the traditional dispute resolution process.

Workers in the pilot program are guaranteed a meeting with the judge in 45 days. While they wait, they are assigned a care coordinator who will work as an intermediary between them and insurance company to find the best alternative to opiate medication. In some cases, insurance will agree to cover addiction treatment or alternative therapies for pain management like chiropractic care or physical therapy. The hope is that speeding up the dispute resolution process can help prevent opioid addictions and, eventually, overdose deaths.

Big Time Support

It’s estimated that the program will only help 50 to 75 individuals the first year, but it’s a big step in the right direction and it has the full support of those on the front lines fighting the opiate epidemic in Massachusetts. “In my courtroom, I’ve seen dozens of people become addicted to drugs because of a work injury and, tragically, some of these people have died of an overdose before they receive their proper treatment,”” said Department of Industrial Accidents Senior Judge Omar Hernandez. This sentiment was echoed by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, who said, “The bottom line is no one should become addicted or die as a result of a workplace injury because of medication that was prescribed.”

While I don’t really buy into the idea that people with no history of drug addiction can suddenly find themselves gobbling methadone, Oxycontin, morphine and Valium (not to mention selling coke) just because of a workplace injury, this pilot program is an incredible option for those who may genuinely want help to stop abusing painkillers but don’t know where to start. Here’s hoping more state governors follow Charlie Baker’s lead when comes to finding creative ways to attack the opiate epidemic.

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About Author

Becky Sasso is a writer and editor who worked at the world headquarters of an international 12-step organization and has a Master's in communication from Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves as the head of Marketing and Development for The Gentle Barn Foundation and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.