Addiction is an ongoing battle.
The latest: Preliminary CDC data shows overdose deaths dropped 10% YoY through April, the largest decrease on record. Causes are unclear, but some experts point to increased availability of the life-saving medication naloxone.
Still… drug-related deaths have been trending up since 1999, and two-thirds of adults say they or a family member have experienced addiction — yet the majority didn’t receive treatment.
In a bid to expand access, recent policy changes enabled general practitioners to prescribe addiction meds, but surveys suggest lack of time and specialized knowledge give many pause.
Outlook. Public health officials warn stats could boomerang without continued support. While acute medication use can save lives, startups hope to change lives with whole-person care.
- Hybrid addiction treatment provider Eleanor Health added $30M this month.
- Sober Sidekick recently raised $2.8M for its sobriety-focused social networking app.
- Marigold Health secured $11M for its wraparound peer support program in June.
- Partnering with employers, SUD management platform Pelago raised $58M in March, while low-income-focused virtual provider Boulder Care landed $35M in May.
Adding wearables to the mix, OpiAID’s wrist-worn device monitors patients remotely, and Spark Biomedical’s neurostimulating earpiece eases withdrawal symptoms.
Takeaway: Progress is progress. But after naloxone, social determinants, behavioral health, and systemic pain management problems still need to be addressed.
