Addiction And Its Dirty Payoff

Big Money From Drug Testing

I got into some research this week that was quite interesting. Or should I say shocking? It was stories that blew my mind. First hearing it, I was at first surprised. Then once I put some thought into it, I realized I was not at all surprised after all. A story about greed, fraud, disappointment, healthcare, false hope, and even abuse.

I was watching a story about certain scams, which have been most prevalent in Florida, USA. And while these problems are across all 50 states and the rest of the world as well, I must say that statistics do show, that this problem seems to be extra amplified in Florida specifically. I’m not really sure about the reason why, but it’s true, addiction in general has hit that state quite hard.

I have done my own time trying rehab in Florida before, spending time in one of the more fancy, marriot style places; aka rehabilitation centers. I won’t name the place, because it’s not the point. I have no ill will towards the place I experienced, and I am not writing this to neither promote nor critique rehab centers.

I was there several years ago, and as it relates to the here and now, I am not really sure if the stuff I have recently learned about is a new trend (scam) or if it’s been going on since the early days of Florida, the rehab state.

So what’s all this about urine screen scams?

Believe it or not, this isn’t about getting ripped off or scammed by our insurance companies. If anything, it’s the other way around. There is a lot of information out there now about rehab centers not being in the up and up.

Word all around is that pill mills of Florida have stepped aside for a new kind of mill. A rehab mill. And they are making a killing off a simple 12 screen urine instant drug screen. Are they the most fancy, tests ever made? Full of platinum and gold? Not really, but the insurance companies are sure getting billed as if they are.

A new hell of a way to make a profit. Buy drug tests in bulk from places like CVS and Walgreens. Paying $25, $30 each, while charging the insurance companies anywhere from $300 to $1,500 for “patient drug screen.” Somebody in the insurance companies are dropping the ball, because they’re paying these rehab mills at those rates. Talk about zero oversight.

This goes way beyond one or two sources. It’s all over the news now. I find it highly believable, and it just makes me shake my head. It’s not the only place a little shadiness can found either.

I myself have experienced plenty of good, and plenty of bad in the world of mental health and addiction rehabilitation. Nothing is more frustrating to me then a lower quality place for people with these type of problems to treat. When I say lower quality, I refer to the quality of care, and not how fancy a place looks.

Budgets vary, but does quality have to?

This is likely and hopefully not happening at the majority of care centers. But the fact that it happens at all is a major reflection of how super major big money, addiction has generated.

Rumor has it, this may soon be facing a good crackdown. A profit is one thing, but a damn near stick up, is something totally different.

I normally do not like to cover too many subjects in a rebel rousing kind of way. But I did feel rather compelled to at least write something, after hearing this on a recent report, as well as reading it.

I’m sure that plenty of others things are hidden well from oversight. All I can hope and pray for is that as many addicts as possible find their way to good quality drug and mental health rehabilitation centers.

Keeping in mind that although it may sometimes feel like it, inpatient addiction patients are not “in custody.” They are not inmates either. No matter how much certain rehab centers looks like a jail in disguise.

These patients are sick, and are seeking treatment. They are human beings. They have to be aware that they always have the green light for self advocating.

Michael Patanella

is a Trenton, New Jersey Author, Publisher, Columnist, Editor, Advocate, and recovering addict, covering topics of mental health, addiction, sobriety, mindfulness, self-help, faith, spirituality, Smart Recovery, social advocacy, and countless other nonfiction topics. His articles, publications, memoirs, and stories are geared towards being a voice for the voiceless. Hoping to reach others out there still struggling.