5 million adolescents struggle with addictions. How can your benefits help the whole family?

As the rates of substance misuse disorder and opioid addiction continue to rise, employers need to target an even wider demographic of those who need support with the right benefits. 

More than 5 million people under the age of 18 have a substance use disorder, and 90% will not receive treatment, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For parents, the psychological and financial burden of caring for their children can take a toll on their work: 75% of parents have missed at least one day of work per month due to concerns around their child's well-being, according to data from Pelago, a digital substance use management solution. 

Pelago, which was formerly known as Quit Genius, has expanded their resources to include adolescent care for tobacco, opioid and alcohol misuse disorders. Early intervention is key to preventing addictions from continuing into adulthood, and for restoring well-being for the whole family, says Dr. Yusuf Sherwani, CEO and co-founder of Pelago. 

"About two-thirds of employees told us that some kind of support around substance use management would be helpful, but not just for themselves," Sherwani says. "It had to have family support in order for that to be maximally helpful." 

Read more: This founder overcame addiction — now he combats stigma with success

While the stigma around mental health disorders has lessened significantly over the course of the pandemic, change around addiction has been slower, Sherwani notes. Parents may feel a "fear of failure" if their child is struggling with substance misuse. Those fears and concerns play out in the work environment, impacting an employer's bottom line. 

"We're finding that it's having a pretty significant impact on productivity in the workplace," Sherwani says. "The costs start to spiral, and we're hearing from employers directly that, yes, it's certainly a problem with employees, but it's almost a bigger problem amongst dependents, including adult dependents and teens and adolescents as well." 

Read more: Substance use disorder is costing employers billions. Here's how to invest in treatment 

Pelago is addressing these needs through their substance use management program, which focuses on harm reduction through a coordinated care program that can be accessed virtually. The program treats adolescents age 15 to 17 for tobacco and alcohol substance use, while opioid use disorder treatment starts at age 16-years-old.

Not only does this combat the stigma of seeking out expensive in-patient rehab services, but it also addresses the underlying mental health issues that often go hand-in-hand. 

"About half of individuals with an addiction are going to have multiple addictions. So if someone is vaping, has that led to other types of substance use as well?" Sherwani says. "We have highly trained providers and counselors that can prescribe medication like Suboxone, and we're treating mild and moderate mental health conditions." 

If more intensive care is needed, Pelago's providers will coordinate with outside providers to find appropriate care for younger people. Not all people struggling with addiction will need in-patient rehab, Sherwani stresses, a common misconception that can lead to not seeking treatment at all. 

"Putting your child into rehab is considered to be an 'everything else has failed' approach, and can be extreme," he says. "The vast majority of teens don't need that and they don't want that. The goal is harm reduction and abstinence." 

Read more: How to support an employee with addiction

Employers need to consider the whole family when building their benefits and considering the types of care they should provide, Sherwani says. Addiction treatment is one area where employers are recognizing they need to invest in solutions, but there are still many barriers to overcome. 

"How can we support not just employees, but also their families, so that employees can then be productive assets for the company?" he says. "I think there's a good reason to feel optimistic, but we aren't where we want to be, which is why we're trying to push the boundaries and provide alternatives."