For the past two decades, opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts have been well above the national average, reaching 30 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. With Massachusetts, notably rural areas, continuing to struggle with opioids, it’s clear that community members need easier access to substance use disorder treatment that can meet them where they’re at. No matter the physical location. That’s where Better Life Partners comes in.

“Last year, there were over 2,000 overdose deaths in Massachusetts. There is clearly a need for more treatment options that are immediate,” observes Better Life Partners’ Director of Operations in Massachusetts, Mike Garafalo, LADC II, CARC. “What we saw was that when you go further outside the Greater Boston area, there are less services available. The services that are available have waitlists but people need help right when they ask for it.”

Better Life Partners bridges this gap by offering same-day treatment for opioid use disorder, with same-day access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Eleanor Corcoran, LICSW, Massachusetts’ State Clinical Director, knows just how vital Better Life Partners’ accessible services are. She notes, “Better Life Partners is bringing solution-focused recovery and support to the people of Massachusetts. We’re not only helping people find recovery when they’re ready, but we’re also working to shift people’s mindsets and hearts when it comes to the opioid crisis.”

Same-Day Care to Save Lives

Better Life Partners is all too familiar with just how much of a difference immediate care can make. Ari Kriegsman, MD, FASAM, Better Life Partners’ Medical Director in Massachusetts, shares that he joined the team because he is excited about the innovation behind providing same-day treatment and because, “We really solve for patient access and patient experience. Having worked in the field for a while, I know how many hoops people have to jump through to get care. Here, we get to solve for that — we’re making it as easy and as welcoming as possible. Those are words people in the U.S. don’t associate with healthcare, but we’re changing that.”

With the growing rate of opioid use and the increasing need for treatment, it’s no surprise that many centers have defaulted to waitlists. But, Better Life Partners is equipped to combat that, boasting that they have no waitlists ever. All people need to do is call (866) 679-0831 and they’ll receive same-day access to treatment, including medications for opioid use disorder, which greatly reduce the risk of overdose and decrease withdrawal symptoms.

Harm Reduction: Offering Options, Not Consequences

Better Life Partners is on a mission to help any undeserved individual achieve a healthier life filled with belonging, love, and purpose. A key component of their mission is harm reduction. Harm reduction, at its simplest definition, is about treating people with care and respect, understanding that each person is the expert of their own journey.

Eleanor notes that Better Life Partners lives this value every day. “We believe in harm reduction because it’s about saving lives and upholding autonomy. And, because it challenges the harmful stigmas surrounding addiction within the healthcare field and in society at large. Every person on our team sees the individuals we work with as human beings whose lives are purposeful and deserving of dignity and respect, regardless of where they’re at in their recovery journey.”

Harm-reduction gives people options, not consequences. One option Better Life Partners gives its members is access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Suboxone. This means members pair medication with the power of group therapy, decreasing the risk of overdose while giving each person a supportive community environment to heal in.

Medical Director Ari explains, “Not everyone is ready to stop drugs completely, start therapy, and get treatment. That’s okay. If people want medications, which are viable treatment options, that’s a lifesaving intervention. The risk of overdose for people who use is incredibly high. And infection risks are tightly linked to people’s use. We have lifesaving interventions like Suboxone for this, people on these medications are 3x less likely to die than those who aren’t. When we think about saving lives, we can all agree the strongest potential solution is access to medications like Suboxone.”

Join Better Life Partners in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

Along with providing MAT/MOUD to members, Better Life Partners works with community organizations to provide harm reduction and integrated medical, behavioral, and social care. From recovery centers and shelters to treatment providers and corrections departments, there are several ways to build meaningful partnerships with Better Life Partners. To learn more, visit the website.

Get Quick, Affordable Care with Better Life Partners

Choosing to start recovery isn’t an easy choice. That’s why Better Life Partners works with you to figure out what type of treatment you need to succeed. Whatever that looks like to you. Better Life Partners accepts Medicaid, Medicare, most insurances, and offers a sliding fee scale as needed.

For individuals seeking care, call/text (866) 679-0831 to get started with same-day treatment services.

For friends and family wanting to learn more, email info@betterlifepartners.com.