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Lyra Renew: Breaking the Cycle of Substance Use and High Costs

As an addiction psychiatrist, I’ve had countless heartfelt conversations with employees, their families, managers, and benefits leaders about the profound impact of substance use disorder (SUD). 

These discussions have made one thing clear: When an employee is struggling with SUD, it doesn’t just affect them and their family—the entire workplace feels it too. Substance use costs companies a staggering $81 billion every year. The impact is felt through decreased productivity, increased safety risks, more frequent absenteeism, and skyrocketing health care costs.

Expanding Lyra’s Renew program with SUD support

To address this challenge, we launched Lyra’s Renew program in 2021, which has already helped many people struggling with alcohol addiction and mental health issues. Building on that success and impact, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re expanding Lyra’s Renew program to offer comprehensive substance use recovery for those struggling with cannabis, stimulants, opioids, and nicotine, along with alcohol. 

Our virtual and confidential care model revolutionizes addiction treatment by offering high-quality support from the comfort of home, removing travel barriers and ensuring privacy. The Lyra Renew program delivers:

  • A full spectrum of care tailored to individual needs, from early recovery to managing high-risk substance use 
  • Peer support groups led by those who have overcome addiction
  • Support for the entire family and digital resources to enhance the recovery experience
  • A coordinated team of therapists, peer recovery specialists, social workers, and physicians, working together to provide personalized, proactive care

And, for people needing more intensive treatment, we seamlessly connect them to higher levels of care, including outpatient programs, residential treatment, and inpatient care. With this expansion, even more individuals can access integrated, life-changing support through one seamless program.

Current solutions fail to support those in need 

In my experience at Lyra, I’ve seen how challenging and costly it is for employers to support employees struggling with SUD effectively. Many tech-enabled mental health solutions outsource SUD treatment to third-party facilities or try to separate mental health from substance use disorders, creating a fragmented and disjointed member experience. This often results in less accountability, lower-quality care, and poorer outcomes. 

Unfortunately, 50% of people or more drop out of these recovery programs before completing them due to these gaps. This premature dropout increases the risk of relapse, setting off a vicious cycle of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and repeated treatments. These recurring interventions drive up health care costs for both individuals and employers, as incomplete recovery leads to ongoing, costly health issues.

Breaking the cycle of addiction and high costs

Lyra’s in-house Renew program delivers high-quality and cost-effective care. A recent study found that Lyra delivered a 60% reduction in employer health plan spending for members with substance use disorders.

For benefits leaders, this reduction in costs can be substantial, significantly alleviating the overall cost burden associated with high-risk employees. But the benefits extend beyond just savings. Effective, comprehensive care also helps in talent retention, reduces absenteeism, and enhances overall productivity, leading to a healthier, more engaged workforce. Most importantly, I’ve seen the profound transformations in individuals and their families when they’re able to fully thrive in recovery.

At Lyra Health, our commitment is to ensure that everyone receives the life-changing care they deserve—the kind of compassionate, effective support we would want for our own loved ones. This dedication drives us to continually invest in specialized, comprehensive care programs, ensuring that individuals with complex mental health needs are never left behind. Together, we can create a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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About the author
Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH
VP of Psychiatry & Complex Care at Lyra Health

Dr. Das is board certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine and has over 20 years of research experience. She completed her master’s degree at Dartmouth College and her MD/PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She’s a past president of the Northern California Psychiatric Society and the American Psychiatric Association District Branch, and a clinical associate professor at Stanford School of Medicine. She also serves on the Council on Addictions at the American Psychiatric Association and has presented to the US Congress on the importance of access to care for substance use disorders.

By Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH
VP of Psychiatry & Complex Care at Lyra Health
30 of September 2024 - 2 min read
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