Community health centers (CHCs) are bringing affordable addiction treatment closer to more patients than ever. For many, community health centers are the first resource they turn to for addiction help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that in 2016, 50% of those seeking addiction treatment went to a CHC first. In 2016 alone, more than 1.2 million patients entered addiction treatment through a CHC.
If you have a drug addiction, there are treatment options available. You do not have to suffer alone. Many people with drug addiction find help with the help of community health centers. Community health centers are low-cost, high-quality medical care centers that treat patients based on a medical need regardless of their ability to pay. These centers can provide free or low-cost health care for eligible patients, such as those uninsured, underinsured, or on Medicare.
Availability and accessibility of dependence treatment
The availability of effective and affordable addiction treatment is an important issue for the behavioral health industry. In 2017, 49 million Americans struggled with a substance use disorder and only 1 out of 10 addicts sought treatment. This highlights the need for effective treatment, but the public often has difficulty finding an effective treatment. This is problematic because addiction treatment programs are one of the only health resources in a community that can provide early intervention and prevention. The availability of treatment for those with substance use disorders is an important component of community health centers. With the community health center and addiction treatment sectors sharing a common mission, health centers are uniquely positioned to provide substance use disorder treatment services.
Screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning
If you are worried about a friend or family member, you may be concerned about whether or not they should enter a treatment program. Perhaps you are unsure of the steps needed to get your loved one help. The first step in dealing with addiction is to recognize that there is a problem. The next step is to find substance abuse treatment programs in your area. Most clients seeking addiction treatment are referred to a treatment center by a medical provider or mental health professional. Screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning are one of the important roles community health centers play in addiction treatment, so the person affected can get the targeted help they need.
Community involvement, participation, and patient orientation
The health center setting offers addiction treatment services that are focused on the patient as an individual. It is one of the few outcomes-based medical settings in which health promotion, disease prevention and maintenance, individualized treatment plans, and referrals to medical, mental health, and social services are all standard components of care. Community health centers are able to provide these services to patients that are typically underserved by traditional inpatient treatment.
Clinical governance of dependence on treatment services
Dependence treatment services form an important part of the primary health care offered to many persons suffering from addiction. However, the prevalence of substance use disorders has increased significantly over the past decade, and consequently, the demand for these services has also increased.
The term “community health center” refers to locally operated medical facilities that serve uninsured and low-income patients. These facilities provide certain medical, dental, and behavioral health services and have a key role in our nation’s care system for substance abusers. A 2014 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and Administration report showed that 29 percent of adults (or about 57 million people) had utilized a substance use disorder treatment facility. This estimate does not include individuals seeking treatment for other mental disorders such as anxiety or depression.
