Lyra Health Introduces Comprehensive Substance Use Disorder Support for Alcohol, Cannabis, Opioids, Stimulants and Nicotine

Lyra Renew, proven to deliver a 60% reduction in health plan spending for members with substance use disorders, now expanding to support a broader spectrum of substances

September 30, 2024 — 12:00 PM ET, BURLINGAME, Calif. — Lyra Health, the leading provider of innovative Workforce Mental Health solutions for employers and health plans, today announced comprehensive support for members struggling with cannabis, stimulants, opioids, and nicotine. Building on the success of Lyra Renew for alcohol use disorder, the program’s expansion increases access to evidence-based treatments for a broad spectrum of substance use disorders and is available to all members across the U.S.

Growing Impact of Substance Use in the Workplace
Substance use disorder (SUD) affects more than 23 million full-time employees. Individuals and their families face significant challenges in finding care for SUD due to inadequate treatment options that fail to address the interconnected nature of substance use and mental health conditions. As a result, each issue exacerbates the other and leads to worsening use and symptoms. Individuals cycle in and out of treatment in attempts to address the root cause, facing repeated setbacks and delays in recovery. Or more often, they don’t even know where to turn to care to address all of their needs.

For employers, the impact of addiction is profound. The financial burden of high health care spending, prolonged absenteeism, decreased productivity, and heightened safety risks are said to cost employers $81 billion annually. 

“We know that so many people with substance use disorder are confused about what their options are and how to find the right treatment program for their needs,” said Dr. Smita Das, vice president psychiatry and complex care, Lyra Health. “Oftentimes, the options they are finally able to pursue lack integrated, evidence-based care that addresses mental health conditions and substance use, as well as transitional support, which is critical for breaking the cycle of relapse and achieving long-term recovery. Our programs address these gaps by providing comprehensive, personalized mental health care that meets the needs of both the individual and their family, ensuring faster clinical improvement and a smoother transition to lasting recovery.”

High-Quality Care for Substance Use Disorder
Addressing a wide range of substance use disorders requires an innovative approach:

• Full-spectrum care tailored to individual needs: Delivered through Lyra Clinical Associates, Lyra’s specialized providers help people reduce or stop substance use and treat co-occurring disorders through evidence-based virtual therapy, digital lessons and tools, and medications. From early recovery to managing high-risk substance use, Lyra Renew is designed to improve members’ relationships with substances using progress tracking, skill-building exercises, and group support facilitated by peer recovery specialists. A coordinated and multidisciplinary team of therapists, peer recovery specialists, and physicians work together to provide care plans tailored to each individual’s needs and situation. 
• Access to higher levels of care: For members in need of intensive treatment, Lyra seamlessly connects them to higher levels of care, including outpatient programs, residential treatment, and inpatient care through trusted Lyra Facility Partners.
• Higher net health care savings for employers: By providing timely, evidence-based care focused on improving outcomes, Lyra empowers members to address their mental health challenges early, reducing the risk of escalation and the need for more costly interventions. A recent study found that Lyra delivered a 60% reduction in employer health plan spending for members with alcohol and substance use disorders. 

Dedicated Support for Nicotine Cessation
In addition to expanded SUD support, Lyra will introduce Nicotine Quitline, a dedicated service designed to replace traditional cessation solutions. Tobacco, which contains the highest levels of nicotine, is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for nearly 1 in 5 deaths each year. The Nicotine Quitline will offer immediate, personalized support, including a quit plan, coping strategies for cravings, expert-developed resources, and assistance with connecting to additional care if needed. Upon program completion, members will receive documentation to verify participation. 

For more information about Lyra’s comprehensive support for substance use disorders, visit Lyra’s blog here.

About Lyra Health
Lyra Health is the leading provider of Workforce Mental Health benefits, available to more than 17 million people globally. Lyra is transforming access to life-changing mental health care using AI-powered provider matching, personalized support, and a digital platform to deliver evidence-based support for individuals and teams. Lyra quickly connects members to the largest dedicated global network of evidenced-based mental health providers and well-being tools, to address every mental health need and deliver outstanding positive outcomes that are equitable across diverse racial and ethnic groups. Extensive peer-reviewed published research confirms Lyra’s transformative care model helps people recover twice as fast and a 26% reduction in overall health care claims costs for participants annually.  For more information about Lyra Health’s Workforce Mental Health benefits for employers, visit lyrahealth.com.