The future is bright for substance use and mental health care

I thought this time of year I would write about things that have happened in my profession as Executive Director of Wellspring Center for Prevention, a private nonprofit agency serving community members and organizations in Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

The agency is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities through quality prevention and early intervention services, promoting strong mental health, effective family functioning and awareness of the devastating effects of substance abuse and dependence.

Why not start with a look back to 2024. This was a year that saw significant developments in substance use and mental health care, with the US government taking major steps to improve access to services, to address gaps in care and to address suicide prevention.

We have seen improved parity rules in mental health. Basically, in an attempt to impose equal treatment on mental health and substance use services compared to physical health care, the US Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury have introduced new rules. They ensure that insurance providers offer mental health benefits without stricter limitations than physical health benefits. The changes require insurers to evaluate and adjust policies that may restrict access to mental health care, such as prior authorization requirements and restricted provider networks, which support the goals of the Mental Health Equity and Addiction Equity Act.

More: Be Grateful For Substance Use And Mental Health Solutions | Parental speaking

And we’ve seen a substantial increase in federal funding with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarding $45.1 million in grants to expand access to mental health and substance use treatment across demographics . These funds support school-based mental health programs, community-based treatment for children and young adults, and employment services for adults with serious mental health or co-occurring disorders. They also include specific programs for high-risk populations, such as racial and ethnic minority groups and the incarcerated.

But we can wait much longer, possibly starting in 2025. For example, there’s the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, released in April, this 10-year strategy marks the US government’s first comprehensive federal suicide prevention plan in over a decade. It includes more than 200 targeted actions, such as expanding mobile crisis support through the 988 helpline, integrating suicide risk assessments into substance use treatment, and providing resources for those affected by suicide. This strategy emphasizes a holistic, community-led approach to prevention aimed at stemming rising suicide rates and overdose crises.

These initiatives reflect a broader effort to prioritize mental health and substance use treatment in public health policy, addressing long-standing barriers to affordable and equitable care and providing targeted interventions to communities most in need.

More: Are you SAD? It’s autumn so you could be | Parental speaking

Looking ahead to 2025, several transformative developments in the field of substance use and mental health treatment are anticipated, with significant policy changes, technological innovations and research updates expected to drive substantial change.

For example, there is the expansion of telehealth and remote access, which will reflect a renewed focus on accessibility, policies enabling telehealth for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatments established during the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to remain in effect. permanent. This expansion allows greater flexibility in accessing treatment, particularly for those in rural areas or facing mobility challenges, by supporting audio and video care at home. This change is expected to make SUD treatment more inclusive and widely available

We are also likely to experience increases in investment for infrastructure investment. SAMHSA proposes to spend $8.1 billion, marking a significant increase in funding aimed at strengthening overdose prevention services, 24/7 crisis intervention through continued development of the 988 hotline, and suicide prevention programs. And we can expect new grants that could also target rising suicide rates among older adults and marginalized communities to better integrate social supports into treatment systems. ​

We should see a shift in treatment paradigms as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are expected to integrate more medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder, which combines medication with psychological support to improve efficacy the treatment. This approach emphasizes the role of MAT in primary care settings to reduce stigma and create a more supportive environment for people struggling with opioid addiction.

We should also experiment with synthetic opioids and drug market interventions. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl have fueled record demand and overdose deaths. The United Nations World Drug Report 2024 highlighted the need for global regulatory reforms and preventive measures to address these powerful drugs, given their significant role in the drug crisis and impact on global public health. New policy recommendations and cross-border collaborations could strengthen the global response to the use and distribution of synthetic opioids

Finally, we should have an increased focus on the social determinants of health. The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced new service codes to address social determinants of health (SDOH), such as housing insecurity and food access, in substance use treatment. These codes are designed to support collaborative care involving community health workers aimed at mitigating external factors that contribute to SUDs and mental health struggles.

These upcoming changes should mean a move towards a more flexible, comprehensive and socially integrated approach to SUD and mental health treatment in 2025 and beyond, addressing both structural barriers and the increasing complexity of global substance use problems .

Ezra Helfand is the CEO/Executive Director of the Wellspring Center for Prevention. You can contact him at [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: The future is bright for substance use and mental health care