PBN 2021 Fastest Growing Companies Awards
$5 million – $25 million: 1. AdCare Rhode Island Inc.
CEO (or equivalent): Fred A. Trapassi Jr.
2020 Revenue: $10.7 million
2018 Revenue: $6.5 million
Revenue growth: 65.2%
In 2020, overdose deaths in Rhode Island increased by more than 20%.
One organization that has been uniquely positioned to respond to this crisis is AdCare Rhode Island Inc., a drug treatment center in North Kingstown.
Since 1975, the institution has been addressing alcoholism and addiction through programs, including detoxification, crisis stabilization, residential treatment and comprehensive outpatient services.
In 2018, AdCare was purchased by American Addiction Centers, joining a national network of treatment providers. Since then, AdCare has grown its annual revenue from $6.5 million in 2018 to $10.7 million in 2020.
The demand for services grew drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic as many community-based services such as Narcotics Anonymous moved to limited virtual platforms and saw a steep drop in attendance. Subsequently, the number of overdoses in the area skyrocketed.
“The stressors and anxiety over the last 18 months have caused an increase in substance use that we’re seeing in the community,” AdCare CEO Fred A. Trapassi Jr. said.
As a response to the pandemic, AdCare expanded both its telehealth rehabilitation services and virtual support meetings.
“We don’t want anything to get in the way of our patients continuing on their path of recovery,” Trapassi said.
Patients can participate in online substance use counseling right in their home, receiving support and treatment to keep their recovery on track.
For many participants, telehealth treatment works even better than in person because it eliminates transportation time and costs, the need to take paid time off from work, and child care or elder care arrangements. It also reduces unnecessary exposure to illnesses such as COVID-19 for both the patient and caregiver.
Patients will partake in confidential virtual sessions with a licensed counselor following the strict standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
Virtual support meetings are offered several days a week in the traditional 12-step style, providing a safe space for attendees to connect with one another and help each other through challenging times.
Monthly sessions are also held to educate family members about addiction so that they can understand the issue and figure out the best way to assist their loved ones. AdCare’s approach allows family members to participate to increase the chances of a successful recovery and to receive counseling and support for themselves.
Recognizing the need to engage the broader community in addressing the staggering increase of deaths caused by overdose, AdCare began hosting free virtual sessions for businesses to train their staff on how to administer Narcan, a potentially lifesaving medication used to treat an opioid overdose.
“The number of overdose deaths last year really [highlights] the hardships so many people faced nationwide, as well as here in Rhode Island,” Trapassi said. “Because of this, more people should be educated on how to handle an overdose emergency, and partnering with our local businesses is a great way to do that.”
As it looks to the future, AdCare will be expanding its work in medication-assisted treatment and increasing the number of beds available to those in greatest need. It will also be recognizing veterans lost to addiction with a walkway called the “Walk of Peace and Hope” funded by Gold Star family members.
