Greed Is Killing Addicts

Recovery centers of America is one of the largest conglomerate rehabs in the U.S., and last week they were in the headlines for heinous treatment of clients. This year, two patients have died of overdoses in the Boston facility which has now been shut down. The money behind Recovery Centers of America is mind boggling, RCA had recently put over 50 million into the buildings and amenities, ignoring the employee complaints of poor client care. This is an obvious example of keeping new clients coming, takes precedent over caring for those already paying them for help. 

Even more dumb-founding is that in November 2016, Deerfield Management pumped $231.5 Million for RCA to open 3 more locations. Doing due diligence on a deal of this size should be a simple process, and no doubt have some type of quality assurance had to be in place. Brian O’Neil, led a failed real estate fund in his past and was able to raise many millions over the past couple of years. He has spent the money on a lavish marketing budget, and expensive amenities but not on the basic standard of care. This becomes easy to read motives, especially after reading the endless employee complaints on the standard of care.

Lately, the news has been littered with Sovereign Health, RCA, and other busts of the larger rehabs committing a variety of crimes. The greed will only get worse, as the states refuse to crackdown on this industry. The lack of regulations on rehabs, and 4000+ rehabs that are not held best practice standards…is it any wonder why people are relapsing at a 90% rate?

Addiction has been declared a disease, and it’s one that usually comes with a plethora of other mental and physical issues. Addicts and loved ones are forced to vet various ways to get help, often not knowing what they really need. Hospitals are held to standards, accreditation, and regardless of the place you choose; best practice methods are the same across the board. We are letting the small timers get away with millions in fraud, and the big money players destroy lives while profiting. The opioid epidemic will take education for prevention, but if we want to stop those already in depths of addiction…. Things need to change fast. So to the legislatures that define the selfish politician, and only does what helps their own political ambitions...People are dying at an unprecedented rate, do the RIGHT thing.  

Example: The DA of Palm Beach County has over 400 PhP’s in his jurisdiction, and in his own words there are more “Bad than Good”. That’s 200+ he has admitted as being fraudulent, and he has shut down 2! In addition, only one Doctor has been convicted (Still has not been Sentenced!) and made several low-level arrests. Multiple CEO’s, Investors, and MANY rubber stamping Doctors known to him and his office are practicing with impunity. South Florida’s economy and unemployment are great, because of the businesses centered around the rehab industry.