New drug, alcohol treatment plan for Santa Cruz County

Drug and alcohol treatment services are expanding to residents in Santa Cruz County, under new substance use disorder coverage through Medi-Cal. This comes after the county said the California Department of Health Care Services approved its plan to launch the program under the Affordable Care Act.

Santa Cruz County is the fourth county in California approved to expand coverage for those dealing with substance use disorder.

“Currently, fewer than half of county residents who are seeking treatment for a substance use disorder are able to get the type of care they need when they need it. Elimination of waiting lists for alcohol and drug treatment will save many lives, reduce individual and family suffering, and save public dollars that are currently being spent on the fallout from untreated addiction”, said Bill Manov, Ph.D., chief of the County Health Services Agency’s Alcohol and Drug Program.

The county said the program will also include case management and follow-up care for people going through acute treatment.

“Too many individuals and families affected by substance use disorders have had limited access to treatment. We are excited about the opportunity to finally address the need for services through our partner provider agencies in the community,”said Erik Riera, the county’s director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors still needs to approve the program before the county and state can create contracts to begin services.