According to the CDC, fentanyl overdose is now the leading cause of death among US adults between the ages of 18 and 45. While intentional fentanyl use accounts for many of these tragic fatalities, a growing percentage of individuals are overdosing due to unknowingly consuming fentanyl-laced substances. 

Accurate and reliable testing results are vital for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) who are justice-involved. Evidence-based practices show that laboratory results are the most effective way to guide clients toward recovery.

Averhealth is one of only approximately 30 US laboratories with a CAP-FDT certification from the College of American Pathology (CAP). It’s like a badge of honor, illustrating our focus on forensic toxicology and confirming that we follow all industry best practices.

Last month we praised the vital role of treatment courts in helping those with substance use disorder find alternatives to incarceration on the road to recovery. For many, these courts are the difference between life and death.

Too often, we see the results of substance use disorder: Broken families, broken hearts – broken lives. It’s easy to get dejected, too.

Averhealth is proud of our long-time partnerships with treatment courts around the nation to reclaim lives, unite families, and strengthen communities.

For Brad Bell, it came down to one word: Willingness. “I was in pain. I needed help,” he recalls his addiction struggles after leaving the Marine Corps. “But I had the willingness to change.”

For Brad Bell, it came down to one word: Willingness. “I was in pain. I needed help,” he recalls his addiction struggles after leaving the Marine Corps. “But I had the willingness to change.”

The Averhealth management team recently met in person for education and training for the first time in two years. We were honored to have Dr. Jermaine Davis as our keynote speaker on the topic “Thriving as a Team.”

When it comes to humans, there’s no shortage of trauma. Violence, abuse, neglect, loss, disaster, war, natural disasters, pandemics, and other emotionally harmful experiences can all trigger trauma, affecting just about everyone, no matter the age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or geography.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Patrick Bowler of Michigan reminds us using standardized, validated assessments and reliable drug/alcohol testing, judges can gain objective information -and not be duped.

Learn more about American Parole and Probation Association 2022 Winter Training takeaways to support frontline staff dealing with workplace trauma.

It may be a new year but, sadly, the heartbreak continues. The U.S. lost more than 815,000 lives to COVID-19 through the end of 2021.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses during the 12-month period ending April 2021. Health officials described the dramatic increase in overdose deaths as an example of the devastating effects of COVID-19 as it spreads far beyond the disease itself.