Thanks for subscribing!
You will now receive future content from Lyra Health.
As an addiction psychiatrist, I’ve had countless heartfelt conversations with employees, their families, managers, and benefits leaders about the profound impact of substance use disorder (SUD).
These discussions have made one thing clear: When an employee is struggling with SUD, it doesn’t just affect them and their family—the entire workplace feels it too. Substance use costs companies a staggering $81 billion every year. The impact is felt through decreased productivity, increased safety risks, more frequent absenteeism, and skyrocketing health care costs.
Expanding Lyra’s Renew program with SUD support
To address this challenge, we launched Lyra’s Renew program in 2021, which has already helped many people struggling with alcohol addiction and mental health issues. Building on that success and impact, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re expanding Lyra’s Renew program to offer comprehensive substance use recovery for those struggling with cannabis, stimulants, opioids, and nicotine, along with alcohol.
Our virtual and confidential care model revolutionizes addiction treatment by offering high-quality support from the comfort of home, removing travel barriers and ensuring privacy. The Lyra Renew program delivers:
- A full spectrum of care tailored to individual needs, from early recovery to managing high-risk substance use
- Peer support groups led by those who have overcome addiction
- Support for the entire family and digital resources to enhance the recovery experience
- A coordinated team of therapists, peer recovery specialists, social workers, and physicians, working together to provide personalized, proactive care
And, for people needing more intensive treatment, we seamlessly connect them to higher levels of care, including outpatient programs, residential treatment, and inpatient care. With this expansion, even more individuals can access integrated, life-changing support through one seamless program.
Current solutions fail to support those in need
In my experience at Lyra, I’ve seen how challenging and costly it is for employers to support employees struggling with SUD effectively. Many tech-enabled mental health solutions outsource SUD treatment to third-party facilities or try to separate mental health from substance use disorders, creating a fragmented and disjointed member experience. This often results in less accountability, lower-quality care, and poorer outcomes.
Unfortunately, 50% of people or more drop out of these recovery programs before completing them due to these gaps. This premature dropout increases the risk of relapse, setting off a vicious cycle of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and repeated treatments. These recurring interventions drive up health care costs for both individuals and employers, as incomplete recovery leads to ongoing, costly health issues.
Breaking the cycle of addiction and high costs
Lyra’s in-house Renew program delivers high-quality and cost-effective care. A recent study found that Lyra delivered a 60% reduction in employer health plan spending for members with substance use disorders.
For benefits leaders, this reduction in costs can be substantial, significantly alleviating the overall cost burden associated with high-risk employees. But the benefits extend beyond just savings. Effective, comprehensive care also helps in talent retention, reduces absenteeism, and enhances overall productivity, leading to a healthier, more engaged workforce. Most importantly, I’ve seen the profound transformations in individuals and their families when they’re able to fully thrive in recovery.
At Lyra Health, our commitment is to ensure that everyone receives the life-changing care they deserve—the kind of compassionate, effective support we would want for our own loved ones. This dedication drives us to continually invest in specialized, comprehensive care programs, ensuring that individuals with complex mental health needs are never left behind. Together, we can create a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Discover how Lyra can help your workforce
Explore our results
By
Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH
VP of Psychiatry & Complex Care at Lyra Health
30 of September 2024 - 2 min read
Lyra news
Stay in touch and get the latest blogs
