Quit Genius, an addiction treatment telehealth startup, has raised $64 million to reach people who never seek care and to invest in clinical research. About 90% of people with addiction go untreated, held back by cost, travel and fear that others will find out.
Summary: Addiction is a global pandemic, affecting millions in every nation. It is a kind of mental health disorder that requires treatment. However, data shows that 90% of people do not seek medical attention for their addiction. There are many barriers to seeking medical help, like high costs, inability to travel, and low patient privacy. Quit Genius plans to overcome these barriers and improve addiction treatment by providing telehealth services and investing in clinical research. They have already raised $64 million for their project. Addiction is a severe problem affecting millions of lives. It is a pandemic in every way and yet remains neglected. No nation is free from the problem, though its severity might vary. It means that there is much still to be done in the sphere of addiction treatment. Addiction treatment urgently needs innovation and investments if we want to tame this pandemic.
How many people with addiction get treatment?
US addiction statistics are better viewed as an epidemic within the pandemic. Data suggests that 21 million Americans are addicted to one or another thing. Many believe these are still conservative estimates and that real numbers are greater. However, more worrisome is the fact that most people do not seek addiction treatment. Even in the US, just about 10% receive treatment. These low addiction treatment rates are especially problematic as substance abuse or drug addiction remains prevalent. This is despite being a readily treatable condition. In addition, the annual death rate due to drug overdose is rising. Another worrisome fact is that addiction mainly affects young adults, resulting in significant economic losses for the nations. Addiction could be to many things, but a more significant concern remains substance misuse. About 15 million people in the US regularly abuse alcohol, more than 2 million are living with opioid addiction, and a few million are addicted to street drugs. Doctors these days do not see addiction as merely a bad habit, or social issue, as they thought a few decades back. Extensive research into the subject shows that some individuals are prone to addiction. It is a kind of mental health disorder that must be treated.
Why don’t people seek addiction treatment?
However, experts also realize that there is a need to have an innovative approach to addiction treatment to overcome barriers to seeking treatment. Studies show that some of the most significant barriers to seeking addiction treatment are:
- High treatment costs or perceived high treatment costs
- The belief that one can overcome the condition without treatment
- Not knowing where to seek medical attention
- Worry that people around them will learn about the addiction
- Health insurance that does not pay for addiction treatment
- Fear that treatment may hurt one’s job
- Disbelief in treatment methods
How does Quit Genius plan to treat addiction?
One of the ways out could be putting the new technology at work for addiction treatment. Thus, Quit Genius wants to develop a telehealth solution for addiction treatment. They believe that this would help overcome many barriers to addiction treatment. For example, telehealth can provide better information, help reduce costs, keep treatment discreet, and more. Thus, Quit Genius has already raised $64 million, and they are confident that their approach can significantly impact addiction treatment. They do not just plan to help manage addiction but also focus on investing in addiction research. More significant investment in clinical research would help improve treatment programs. Founders of Quit Genius believe that telehealth is the way forward as people are now less hesitant to seek such help since they know that there is a person on the other side, too. Thus, now people know that telehealth can provide personalized treatment and emotional support, yet seeking such help does not require much time.
Frequently asked questions
Is addiction hard to treat?
No. Addiction is a readily treatable condition, yet only about 10% of people with addiction in the US receive treatment. Doctors no longer see addiction as a bad habit or a social issue. Research shows some people are more prone to it, and it is a mental health disorder that must be treated.
How much money did Quit Genius raise?
Quit Genius, an addiction treatment telehealth startup, raised $64 million. The company plans to use it to build telehealth services that reach people who never seek care, and to invest in clinical research that can improve addiction treatment programs. The goal is to reach the roughly 90% of people with addiction who never get care.
Can telehealth help with addiction treatment?
Yes. Telehealth removes several of the barriers that keep people out of care. It can give better information, lower costs and keep treatment discreet. It also offers personalized treatment and emotional support with a real person on the other side, and it does not take much time out of the day.
How many Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol?
About 21 million Americans live with an addiction, and many believe the real number is higher. About 15 million people in the US regularly abuse alcohol, more than 2 million live with opioid addiction, and a few million more are addicted to street drugs. Addiction mainly affects young adults.