Healthcare Providers Battle Addiction With Innovation - Initiatives by Outer Cape Health, Cape Cod Healthcare

The problem is acute: in 2023, Barnstable County reported 72 opioid-related overdose deaths, and a recent survey showed that more than 40 percent of respondents identified alcohol use as a significant issue. 

Meanwhile, state officials have threatened to close a key inpatient mental health facility in Pocasset, and other inpatient services have been relocated off-Cape. 

But in separate initiatives, healthcare providers are hoping to find new ways to connect people with substance use disorder (SUD) with the resources they need.

 In a program spearheaded by Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, Cape Cod Healthcare has pledged $1 million over four years to support substance abuse programs. The first installment of the pledge will support implementation of a Critical Incident Management System, a computer system that will help local police departments across the Cape document and respond to overdose calls and behavioral health crises. 

The program works by connecting law enforcement with key social service organizations focused on overdose management and community recovery support. The goal, organizers say, is to fight drug trafficking while ensuring that people with SUD can access the treatment and resources they need.

 The $1 million pledge is a requirement of state public health officials because Cape Cod Healthcare is carrying out an ambitious capital project: the new Edwin Barbey Patient Care Pavilion at Cape Cod Hospital, which is preparing for a ribbon cutting later this month.

The first year’s investment will procure the software and staff a regional coordinator for the system, training police departments and linking social service agencies into the system. Work begins on the program in July, and the remaining $750,000 of the pledge will be used to implement and expand the system in the three years that follow.

 “Commitment to our community is at the core of all we do,” said Cape Cod Healthcare President and CEO Michael Lauf. “It is part of our mission to continually assess the needs of our residents and partner with others to coordinate vital services, including behavioral health and substance use resources.” He applauded Galibois and his staff for spearheading the project, and thanked the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for guiding the project to approval.

 “I believe that a healthy community is a safe community,” Galibois said. “We are committed to bringing our police departments and social service agencies together to link coordinated, effective enforcement with a network of services and support for people in crisis.”

 In related news, Outer Cape Health Services is ramping up its ability to serve people with SUD, particularly given the potential reduction of inpatient treatment beds on the Cape.

 “Access to treatment in any form is essential,” said CEO Dr. Damian Archer. “Our goal is to connect people with the support they need, whether through therapy, case management or recovery programs.” 

A 2022 Barnstable County Department of Human Services report cited transportation challenges, social isolation and housing instability as obstacles preventing residents from seeking care. With community health center locations in Harwich Port, Wellfleet and Provincetown, Outer Cape Health offers a range of behavioral health and recovery services, including outpatient addiction treatment, medication-assisted therapy and recovery coaching.

Specifically, Outer Cape’s Day Treatment Program delivers intensive outpatient care through in-person group counseling, individual therapy sessions and ongoing case management. The goal, organizers say, is to offer comprehensive support for individuals recovering from SUD, with a focus on personalized, structured care. Outer Cape Health Services also provides a suite of holistic recovery approaches through the A.I.M. Wellness Center, which opened in Wellfleet last year.

Outer Cape also offers office-based addiction treatment, which combines medication-assisted treatment with behavioral health support to help individuals manage opioid and alcohol dependence.

 “While inpatient treatment is necessary for some, many people living with substance use disorder benefit most from structured outpatient care,” said Brianne Smith, director of behavioral health at Outer Cape. “One of the key advantages of outpatient care is that it allows individuals to maintain their daily lives while still receiving essential support — an important aspect of successful recovery.”

Outer Cape Health Services works with community partners to ensure patients have access to additional resources, including employment assistance, housing, education and legal support. Patients can be referred to them by primary care providers, behavioral health clinicians or other organizations, or can inquire themselves.