Substance use disorder is a chronic health condition. Let's treat it that way
This was a sad but not surprising statistic to read in the Sun-Times: Black men born from 1951 to 1970 have been at the highest risk of dying from opioid overdose in every decade of their adult lives across the country, and especially in Cook County.
The recent article also said "government and private agencies … have done little to target these particular men with help."
We at Haymarket Center beg to differ. During our 50 years as Chicago’s largest nonprofit, comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health treatment center, we have habitually gone into the community to identify individuals who could benefit from our evidence-based care.
Our founder, the late Monsignor Ignatius McDermott, aka "Father Mac," would walk what was known as "skid row" to minister to the unhoused and alcoholics. Today, our multifaceted outreach efforts reach individuals on the CTA, in the criminal justice system, in encampments and in communities.
The majority of our patients at any given time are Black men of the age identified in the article.
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Once in our care, they receive holistic treatment that addresses co-morbidities like food, housing and employment insecurity; other physical and mental health conditions; and trauma caused by racism and the stigma associated with SUD.
Featured in your article was our former client-turned-employee James Stewart, who spoke about his underlying health conditions that had gone untreated until he got wraparound care at Haymarket Center.
While the Sun-Times study included a tally of overdose autopsy reports, we suspect the number of deaths impacted by opioid use is significantly higher, but hypertension or diabetes may be listed as the primary cause of death.
That’s one of many reasons Haymarket Center became a designated Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike — to provide primary care and pharmacy services alongside substance use disorder and mental health care.
Unfortunately, even systems of care like ours are at risk because most funding sources are antiquated in two distinct ways: First, they continue to mischaracterize SUD as a single episode rather than a chronic health care condition, and second, most treatment centers are reliant on grants and government funding that fluctuates rather than being able to bill directly to Medicaid.
There are countless studies that prove there would be huge cost savings and improved health outcomes for individuals if their SUD was treated as a medical condition. Until we shift this paradigm, we will continue to fail the Black men featured in this article — and countless others.
Dan Lustig, president and CEO, Haymarket Center, Chicago
Monsters of the Beltway?
The Bears are now 4-12 this season, having lost 10 games in a row. They are so inept that they are now fully qualified for positions in Donald Trump's administration.
Bob Chimis, Elmwood Park