Carrum Health Expands SUD Care to Cannabis, Sedatives and Stimulants

Expanding the Frontlines: Carrum Health’s Comprehensive Approach to Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders affect one in six working adults in the United States, posing a significant challenge to workforce health and productivity. Among these, nearly 10% of U.S. employees struggle specifically with cannabis or stimulant use disorders, reflecting a growing and complex public health crisis. In response, Carrum Health, a leader in value-based specialty care, has significantly expanded its substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program to cover nearly all substances, including cannabis, sedatives, and stimulants.

A Broader Reach to Meet a Growing Crisis

This expansion marks a pivotal departure from Carrum’s original focus on opioid and alcohol treatment, substances which have historically accounted for the majority of SUD cases. The company’s decision follows increasing demand from employers who recognize the widespread impact of all forms of substance use on their workforce. Christoph Dankert, Carrum’s Chief Network Officer, emphasized the human toll: “It breaks your heart when patients come forward with cannabis issues and we can’t help them,” highlighting a commitment to serve “any patient that comes in the door with a substance use problem.”

Empirical data drives this expansion. Since cannabis legalization, the potency of THC has surged by 35%, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), contributing to escalating cases linked to cannabis misuse. Concurrently, stimulant prescriptions—including ADHD medications—have increased by 20% year-over-year, while illicit stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine have become deadlier due to frequent fentanyl contamination. These trends underscore the complexity and urgency underpinning Carrum’s expansion efforts.

Value-Based Care: Aligning Outcomes and Incentives

Central to Carrum’s approach is a value-based care model that prioritizes treatment outcomes over volume. Providers in Carrum’s network, which includes renowned organizations like Hazelden Betty Ford and The Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, participate in risk-sharing arrangements. This means they are financially incentivized to achieve measurable results such as sustained sobriety and reduced substance use instead of merely delivering episodic care. As Dankert explains, “High-quality providers are willing to accept a different payment model where they don’t face pressure to prematurely discharge patients, taking on the risk if treatment needs continuation.”

Such a model aligns clinical mission with financial sustainability, driving better results for patients and employers alike. The Centers of Excellence (COE) framework, which Carrum has successfully applied to other specialties including surgery and cancer care, now supports comprehensive substance use programs nationwide. This network expansion has grown to serve over 6.7 million covered lives—doubling in size since last year—making access geographically and logistically feasible for 90% of Americans within 50 miles of a Carrum COE.

Patient-Centered Treatment with Accessibility and Support

Once a member seeks help, they undergo a confidential intake and assessment by licensed counselors who guide them to tailored care pathways. Treatment can range from inpatient detox and residential programs to intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization. Carrum’s model also removes financial barriers by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for patients, ensuring that access to quality care is not limited by affordability—a critical factor as public health experts stress the importance of reducing treatment disparities.

The program provides ongoing support through clinical care navigators who assist members throughout their recovery, addressing the logistical challenges that often impede sustained treatment engagement. Early referrals—sometimes as rapid as same-day admission—are a critical feature, given that prompt intervention is associated with better recovery outcomes.

Implications for Employers and Public Health

The economic burden of substance use disorder on employers is profound. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates annual medical expenditures related to substance use cost U.S. employers roughly $35 billion, a figure that underscores the urgent need for effective, scalable treatment solutions in employer-sponsored health plans. Carrum’s expanded program offers a pathway to tackle this problem with more comprehensive care options and demonstrated cost savings—in pilot programs, the company has reported savings of up to 52% compared to traditional insurance coverage.

Moving forward, Carrum plans to track metrics such as patient volume, substance type, treatment initiation speed, and overall treatment effectiveness. Importantly, the company acknowledges that beyond treatment availability, public health efforts must focus on educating and encouraging individuals who have yet to seek help. This aligns with broader institutional guidance from agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which advocates for lowering stigma and increasing access to evidence-based care.

Seeing the Larger Picture: Global and Policy Perspectives

Substance use disorders remain a critical issue not only in the U.S. but worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting substance abuse as a major contributor to the global disease burden. Comprehensive treatment models that emphasize outcomes and patient support, such as Carrum’s value-based COE approach, reflect an emerging best practice in confronting this pandemic at the intersection of healthcare innovation and policy.

The integration of substance use disorder treatment into employer benefits is a particularly significant development. As workplace wellness becomes increasingly important to national health frameworks, approaches that reduce barriers and improve quality can have wide-reaching effects on employee wellbeing and public health.

Looking Ahead: A New Era in Substance Use Treatment

By expanding treatment coverage to nearly all substances and aligning care delivery with outcome-based incentives, Carrum Health is redefining how employers and healthcare providers address the substance use epidemic. This model offers hope that increasing access, quality, and efficiency of treatment can not only improve individual patient outcomes but also reduce the societal and economic toll of substance use disorders.

For further insights on substance use disorder and effective treatment models, visit CDC’s drug overdose prevention resources and explore how integrated care approaches are shaping the future of public health at worldys.news Health section.