Birmingham start-ups address pandemic of substance use disorder

Two Birmingham-area companies are at the forefront of addiction treatment with technology to make it more accessible and easier for patients. 

Birmingham Recovery Center in Hoover and Birmingham-based Clearlee have partnered to provide substance use disorder treatment that makes dealing with addiction a little easier. 

According to the state, about one-fourth of the population has a problem with alcohol consumption and those with issues related to illicit drugs number in the hundreds of thousands. 

“We see people who need help with addictions to both alcohol and drugs,” said Colin Harris, managing director of the Birmingham Recovery Center. “There are so many people who are in dire need of treatment, but, unfortunately, many find options to be limited.”

In addition, many in need find treatment options are not only limited, but the path to recovery is riddled with other issues. For example, how does one seek treatment while also working a fulltime job, caring for a family or other social issues?

This is why the Birmingham Recovery Center has partnered with Clearlee, a startup at the forefront of technology when it comes to remote testing for substance use. 

With the partnership, patients can utilize the Birmingham Recovery Center for more traditional treatment methods, such as group therapy and one-on-one counseling. They can maintain accountability through substance use testing from virtually anywhere by using the Clearlee remote drug-testing program. 

Clearlee offers an app-based platform for patients to test for substances in the comfort of  home or almost anywhere with access to a smart device. The saliva-based testing takes about 20 minutes and the method ensures results are accurate and valid. 

Remote testing ensures that the accountability portion of treatment is easier than ever. This is especially true for patients who are on the road to recovery, but also have work and home constraints that make testing at a lab difficult. 

“Remote substance testing is empowering for someone who is not afforded the drivetime to test onsite at a lab due to work, school, family or logistical constraints.  For some, the nearest onsite lab test could be hours away,” said Liz Read, founder and president of Clearlee. “Remote testing provides privacy and dignity, which we feel are critical to successful monitoring.”

Ease of access to testing through Clearlee affords patients of the Birmingham Recovery Center an easier way to maintain accountability along the path to recovery. 

“With Clearlee, we are able to provide our patients with a component to their treatment process that makes things easier, not harder,” said Ian Henyon, executive director at the Birmingham Recovery Center. “That’s what it is all about – make treatment more convenient, more accessible – and you are more likely to have a successful recovery story.”

Accessibility to treatment remains an issue in Alabama – where there are so few options for those seeking help for substance use disorder. 

The Birmingham Recovery Center – under the umbrella of Longleaf – is building Longleaf Recovery: Huntsville, a substance use treatment center, and will also be constructing a similar facility in the Mobile area this year. 

“We recognize there is a need,” said Harris. “We want to help by being an accessible resource for treatment regardless of where someone is located. By expanding our recovery center locations to the north and the south of our current location, we are doing all we can to meet this need.”