How Spectrum’s Mobile Treatment Unit is Bringing Change Directly to Communities
Spectrum Health Systems’ pioneering mobile treatment unit has made promising strides since it began service in February. Seven days a week, this innovative vehicle delivers addiction treatment medication and other clinical resources to the Central Massachusetts residents that need them most. Years ago, the concept of using a vehicle to meet addiction treatment needs and ...
Observing International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day occurs every year on August 31st, serving as a stark reminder of the devastation of the opioid crisis. In the past few years, overdose deaths have increased dramatically. In the United States, more than 100,000 people die as the result of an overdose each year. That’s more than double the number ...
Why Exercise Matters to Addiction Recovery
Fitness and exercise might not be the first things that come to mind when considering the most important aspects of recovery. But the impact that physical fitness and exercise can have on people recovering from addiction is substantial. Exercise can be a strong resource for relapse prevention, and there are numerous mental and physical health ...
The Growing Momentum of College Recovery Groups
The “college experience” has long been associated with drinking and substance use. Young people, many leaving home for their first time, are thrust into new social and academic situations when they start college. Alcohol and substances find use among students looking for friendship and social belonging while seeking a reprieve from academic stress. The openness ...
Unmet Addiction Treatment Needs Persist in Correctional Facilities
In 2018, Congress passed the First Step Act, which, among other things, required the Bureau of Prisons to expand the availability of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Medications like Suboxone, which provide the two-fold benefit of preventing opioid cravings and blocking opioid receptors, have been strongly shown to reduce the risk of relapse and ...
Pride Month: Honoring and Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community
With Pride Month in full swing, Spectrum Health Systems honors the LGBTQ+ community and acknowledges the difficulties encountered by its members. The disadvantages, discrimination, and other challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community create an increased risk of behavioral health issues such as substance use disorder, self-harm, depression, and anxiety. The National Institute of Health (NIH) ...
Recognizing the Members of Spectrum’s 2023 President’s Club
Since Spectrum Health Systems was founded in 1969—known then as Challenge House—we have been intently focused on offering the highest quality services to individuals seeking treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. Spectrum’s goal is to assist its clients in establishing and sustaining recovery, giving them the tools needed to lead healthy, productive, and ...
Spreading Crucial Awareness About the Dangers of Fentanyl
In recent years, fentanyl has become the predominant adversary in the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues can be deadly in very small doses because of their powerful effects. The chemical composition of fentanyl also makes it much easier to traffic than other drugs, allowing it to saturate the illicit drug market across the country. ...
Spectrum Health Systems Issues Scholarships to Eight Employees Pursuing Nursing Degrees
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment and behavioral health services throughout Massachusetts, announced today that it has awarded scholarships to eight employees pursuing licensed practical nurse (LPN) degrees to help further their careers and the delivery of care within the behavioral health field. “As we continue to ...
Observing National Minority Health Month
Addressing health equity is crucial to the advancement of health services. No person should ever face higher health risks because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other attribute of their identity. Yet, disparities like these have long been observed in the health outcomes of minority groups, including rates of substance use disorder ...
