How to Navigate Insurance Claim Denials

Parents with loved ones struggling with mental health and addiction disorders face tremendous financial challenges, despite the mental health insurance parity laws that have been passed at both the state and national level. Insurance coverage varies by insurer, the specific plan, and the state. The appeals process for overturning denied claims differs as well. There are several organizations who for …

Pathway Session on Collegiate Recovery a Success; Replay Available

On February 15, NCPSG hosted a monthly Pathway Session on Collegiate Recovery Programs with Lisa Arnold of Fairfield University and Amy Boyd Austin of the University of Vermont. During the session, both Lisa and Arnold described how they’ve successfully led collegiate recovery programs which are the “gold standard” in their respective states. One key to these programs is they offer …

Delta-8 THC Crackdown Announced; Thank you, AG Tong.

On Thursday, February 9 Attorney General Tong announced a Delta-8 THC crackdown, to try to rid Smoke Shops, gas stations and CBD Strores of all the impairing THC edible products catering to children. It’s a great start. Here is an example of a civil summons vs. a Mini Mart upstate. As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts including this one …

Visit with Brian Dolan of Sacred Heart University

In late January, Francesca and I met with Brian Dolan, the new Director of SHU’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), at the program office (4980 Park Avenue, Bridgeport). NCPSG has written about SHU’s program in the past, after it started up in 2019 with a big boost from Bill Mitchell of Mitchells of Westport. SHU’s CRP in 2019 was the “new …

MAT Pathway Session was a Great Success

On Wednesday, January 18, our support group hosted David Fiellin, MD of Yale in a virtual Pathway Session. Dr. Fiellin is the director of the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine. He’s a strong advocate for treating addiction in primary care settings and reducing the stigma of using medications to treat addiction. During his talk, David discussed the role medications can …

Recovery Blog Post–Brian McManus

It was 4:30 a.m. on a cold January morning, I crept down the stairs of my 1927 center hall colonial praying that the creaky old house wouldn’t give away my departure. I could see the lights of the car that had just pulled up in front of the house, waiting for me. It was a scene that probably wasn’t unfamiliar …

Smoke Shop Closed in New Canaan

Tuesday, January 10, marked the first day that marijuana could be sold through state-licensed retail outlets in CT. This is a sad day, in my opinion. Based on the legalization act, commercial enterprises will have the incentive to sell stronger, more-potent THC products to young adults and older members of the population. Therefore, the public health consequences will be more …

Recovery Blog Post–Icy Frantz

Today When I met my now husband a year into my sobriety, I remember him asking, “Can’t you just promise that you will never drink again?” It doesn’t work that way–or at least it doesn’t for me–it’s just today. And today–I get to wake up unencumbered with a headache or shame or a fogginess. No more questions: “Where did I …

FDA approval of OTC NARCAN is imminent

This is great news. Access to NARCAN will get even better, as the drug will be distributed through drug stores over-the-counter, without a prescription. Our support group already offers free NARCAN to family members who request it, through one of our strategic partners. Just contact us on our website or by email. Here is the link to the news article.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly!

Our December 14 Pathway Session with Dr. John F. Kelly was a great success. If anyone has the scientific and empirical evidence that peer support groups work, it’s John. To recover from addiction takes a continuing care model, and John advocates for that at every opportunity. Here is the replay on YouTube, and here is his slide deck. You can …