GLEN DALE, W.Va. – Two years ago, in light of the growing opioid epidemic gripping the state and nation, WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital partnered with Tritanium Solutions to bring BreakThru, a medically supervised withdrawal treatment program, to the Ohio Valley.
Statistics show that in 2015, more than 30,000 Americans died as the result of drug overdoses, and 725 of those overdoses were in West Virginia. Since admitting its first patient on Sept. 29, 2015, the BreakThru program at Reynolds Memorial has enrolled 400 patients, 80 percent of whom have completed the two-to-three day stay.
BreakThru, the first of its kind in the tri-state area, is a confidential program that helps people who are struggling with the toughest parts of breaking an addiction to opioids, alcohol, and other drugs – handling the symptoms of withdrawal and staying sober long term. Often, the fear of withdrawal symptoms is a deterring factor for those attempting sobriety. Patients are helped through the withdrawal process with the use of medications to ease the symptoms and are monitored to ensure safety. They are given a private room with limited visitors to allow them to recover in a quiet place.
Before patients are discharged from the program, they are given resources to continue living addiction free. Patients are referred to outpatient treatment facilities, given information on support meetings, and receive follow-up calls from the Breakthru staff at one-, three-, six-, and 12-months post discharge.
The program is covered by most health insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, and assistance is available for qualified, uninsured patients. BreakThru admissions are by appointment only, and the patient must be drug and alcohol free for 24 hours prior to admission.
In 2016, the BreakThru program at Reynolds received the Community Outreach Award from the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.
For more information on the Breakthru program at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, call 855-341-9999 or 304-845-3211, and ask for BreakThru.