Better Together: Overcoming Barriers to Evidence-Based Recovery Treatment 

The path to recovery isn’t a straight line. It’s a winding road with unexpected turns, sudden stops, and occasional U-turns. Like any journey worth taking, it requires courage and companions willing to walk alongside us. 

Dr. Elizabeth Sailsbury-Afshar, a specialist in Family, Addiction, and Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, challenges conventional wisdom about addiction treatment. Her recent presentation to Wisconsin AHEC Community Health Immersion (CHI) participants revealed uncomfortable truths about how many approach recovery—and why we need to implement evidence-based treatments. 

Medication Isn’t Assistance—It’s Treatment 

Dr. Sailsbury-Afshar urged participants to rethink how medication is viewed in addiction treatment. “Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) isn’t necessarily the best term, because meds are treatment,” she emphasized. This perspective resonated with Marina Hart, a UW-LaCrosse Physician Assistant student, who reflected on how this reframing offers “a different way to look at recovery.” 

The data powerfully supports this approach. Medications reduce mortality for opioid use disorder by 50 percent. Studies show that patients receiving MAT are 75 percent less likely to relapse than those attempting recovery without medication. When patients receive MAT along with counseling, their chances of sustained recovery dramatically improve. 

Yet in Wisconsin, it’s often easier to obtain illicit drugs than legally prescribed treatment medications. Research indicates that only one in four people with opioid use disorder in the U.S. receives MAT, despite its proven effectiveness. The system has unintentionally made the path to destruction smoother than the path to healing. 

No One-Size-Fits-All Solution 

Addiction doesn’t discriminate, but it does have favorites. Poverty, limited education, genetics, and environmental factors all contribute to cycles of substance use. Each person’s journey into addiction is unique, often rooted in trauma or devastating personal circumstances. One’s path to recovery must be equally individual. 

Recognizing this complexity means abandoning the cookie-cutter approach to treatment. Tailored, patient-centered solutions that address each individual’s unique challenges are critical to lasting recovery. 

The Social Fabric of Recovery 

Isolation isn’t just a symptom of addiction—it’s often a cause. Recovery treatment must focus not only on individual interventions but also on building community connections. The walk-in mental health clinic where Dr. Sailsbury-Afshar works models this principle. By eliminating appointment requirements and reducing administrative barriers, the clinic meets people where they are—both literally and figuratively. 

This innovative model has shown remarkable results. Walk-in clinics reduce no-show rates by up to 60 percent compared to traditional appointment-based systems. They remove common barriers like transportation and complex intake processes. Most importantly, they create an environment where someone can walk in during a moment of readiness and receive immediate help. 

Recovery requires treating the whole person, not just the addiction. Addressing housing security, transportation needs, and social support systems is essential for sustained recovery. The clinic’s integrated approach connects patients with housing resources, transportation assistance, and peer support networks—vital components of long-term success. 

Wisconsin’s Unique Challenges 

Wisconsin faces distinct hurdles in addressing substance use disorders. The influence of the alcohol lobby remains strong—Wisconsin hasn’t significantly updated its alcohol tax structure since the late 1960s/early 1970s, despite evidence that taxation reduces consumption. Wisconsin maintains some of the lowest alcohol tax rates in the nation, particularly for beer ($0.065 per gallon, third-lowest after Wyoming and Missouri). Meanwhile, methamphetamine use and poly-substance use are on the rise.

Additionally, Wisconsin’s county-based public health system creates funding gaps that complicate access to consistent care. These challenges present opportunities for creative, community-based solutions that can address these barriers head-on. 

A New Path Forward 

As CHI participant Hart wisely noted, “We must be open to all forms of recovery and stay up to date on evidence-based treatments while also taking into account patient preferences and individual needs.” 

Recovery is not just about making treatment available—it’s about making it accessible and responsive. This means creating systems where the path to recovery is easier to navigate than the path to addiction. 

Looking Ahead 

In our next Better Together post, we’ll explore how Lighthouse Recovery Community Center is putting these principles into action, helping people stay connected, resilient, and well. Because while getting sober and learning to love oneself is deeply personal work, no one should have to do it alone. 

Recovery isn’t just about stopping something—it’s about starting something new. And that new beginning always involves community. 

Interested in attending a Community Health Immersion?  

Priority is given to AHEC Scholars, but other students may join as space allows! These impactful experiences cover diverse healthcare topics and are offered across Wisconsin.  

👉 Learn more about Community Health Immersions  

👉 Discover the Wisconsin AHEC Scholars Program