Minnesota Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

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Substance abuse is a complex social malady that covers dysfunction over the entire range of social life. It requires a continuum of service and support including healthcare, employment, housing, education, primary healthcare and behavioral healthcare. The effort to make progress toward significantly reducing substance abuse involves building capacity in all those areas.

Needed Reform:

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Legislative Report (2016), “Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Minnesota,”

“Although the current SUD treatment service system in Minnesota is comprised of a large number of programs reaching from the metro into remote areas of the state and is nationally recognized for its pioneering treatment model, the system doesn’t provide the type of care coordination and long-term care required to recover from addiction.”

The report calls for important reforms. Minnesota’s current care system is episodic and short-term and has to be changed to a long-term longitudinal care model. The medical insurance system has to be revised to permit third-party reimbursement for addiction services. An electronic telemedicine service infrastructure has to be created to add capacity for those with opiate use disorder. Withdrawal management services have to be added to the state’s care continuum. Specialized treatment for opioid use disorders have to be strengthened to prevent the large number of overdose deaths.

Extent of the Problem:

Substance abuse disorder is present in a significant proportion of the population.

  • In 2016, 5.5 percent of adults in the state have an alcohol use disorder, 10 percent of those 18 to 20, 13 percent of those 20 to 24, men more than women, American Indian groups more than others.
  • Two percent of the adult population have a drug use disorder (not alcohol).
  • Drug overdose took some 7.4 percent of the Minnesota population between 2012 and 2014.
  • People without health insurance were substantially more likely to have a substance use disorder (12.9 percent) than those with health insurance (5.1 percent).

Availability of treatment does not cover the need.

  • About 6.9 percent of the adult population is in need of substance abuse treatment. The need is greatest among those with the least education, income, and those lacking health insurance.
  • Only 7.4 percent of those with substance use disorders actually received treatment (13.7 percent of drug users and 6.8 percent of alcohol users). Nine out of ten adults with substance abuse disorder did not receive any treatment.

Available Treatment Options:

There are dozens of treatment centers in Minnesota, virtually all of which are private and rely on insurance to cover fees. Within the state of Minnesota, there are some facilities that offer free or low-cost substance abuse help. Although low-cost short and low-cost non-profit residential programs are available, these programs are not typically long-term residential programs that are most needed by those with the most severe problems. Many involve 12 step meetings, out-patient and various forms of counselling options.

Rule 25 chemical health assessment [Rule25assessmentEligibilityProcess.pdf] can support chemical dependency treatment for those qualified for social assistance (the assessment costs $125 for those not qualified for social assistance). An application for this assistance must be downloaded or picked up at the social service office during business hours. If the applicant is eligible he or she is notified by mail, email, or phone. An assessment is scheduled within 20 days. For people with urgent needs, the Rule 25 is a profoundly frustrating bureaucratic process. Eventually, however, funding can be authorized to pay for the treatment in agencies that accept it.

Anyone who goes before a judge charged with impaired driving offenses must undergo the Rule25 assessment or a similar chemical dependency evaluation. The results of these assessments will lead the court to recommend a treatment that usually consists of 8 to 12 hour education sessions, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) impact panel or urine monitoring as part of a probation program.

The availability of effective chemical dependency treatment for those in Minnesota who need it most is clearly inadequate.

Club Recovery is a leading Minneapolis-area outpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, highly regarded throughout Minnesota for success in helping individuals gain control over alcohol and drug abuse or compulsive gambling and for providing therapy to individuals and families. Please contact us to learn more.

 


Disclaimer: All content on this website is for informational purposes only. It does not substitute for clinical treatment or advice. If you, a friend, or a family member is struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues please call our main office at 952-926-2526. For emergencies, go to your nearest emergency room and/or dial 911.