integrated system of care.
“A new idea is the addition of peer mentors to the levels of care, which increases case management opportunities and lessens clinical interactions,” Cook added. “Our county is embedding mental health clinicians into primary care facilities and we’re looking at assigning a patient navigator to follow clients who are more acutely addicted and mentally ill.”
She concluded that it’s important to “emphasize that the drugs replicate natural neurochemicals in our brain. The brain stops producing enough of the natural chemicals, predominantly dopamine, and rely on the drugs to produce the dopamine or endorphins all humans need to feel.”
Author: Livia Areas-Holmblad
Livia Holmblad is an editor at Addiction Now and covers breaking news, features and everything in between. She moved to SoCal after living in NYC for about 10 years, where she worked for VICE and SinoVision as a writer, editor, host, producer, and director. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Contact Livia at liviah@addictionnow.com
