A six-month program in Massachusetts for individuals in early recovery from an opioid use disorder, many of whom were previously incarcerated, that targets the social determinants of health, such as employment, housing, transportation, and education
Recognizing that early recovery and reentry from incarceration are vulnerable times for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), Access to Recovery (ATR) is a program that supports these individuals, utilizing a wide range of recovery support services that target the social determinants of health. Through its voucher system, the program fills the gap for many services not currently covered by third-party health insurance, state funding through the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), or other government-funded programs. This is a statewide program that is funded by SAMHSA through the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant.
Some of the services that ATR supports include:
- Access to recovery coaching through ATR
- Meeting basic needs, such as food security, transportation, utility bills, and obtaining a driver's license
- Career building initiatives, including job readiness programs, occupational training programs, and work study benefits
- A wide range of services to increase health and wellness
- Paying rent for sober housing that has been certified by the state
ATR reports some impressive outcomes for those that complete the six-month program and appears to be cost-effective. More information on this program can be found in the video here, the news article here, and the program brief here. A short evaluation of the program can be found here.
This program has been highlighted in a report that describes successful models to facilitate employment for people in recovery.
Support from Access to Recovery costs $1,865 per participant over a six-month period, whereas the cost of incarcerating someone in Massachusetts is $54,000 per year.