The Opiate Rehab Mashup

The US has a lot of empty jobs, and a lot of drug addicts.

For the addict who has lost hope, imagine getting this offer:

"All you have to do is agree to work hard, and show up at the truck stop at noon. We'll clean you up, train you for a well paid career, and help you get started on your next steps."

Many addicts would agree to do just that, and it could be delivered in an inexpensive manner by partnering with existing charities and businesses.

The Opiate Rehab Mashup is better than most options drug abusers have for two reasons:

1) It separates the patient from their local environment, and
2) It substitutes the pathology of addiction with the pathology of growth and hard work

It Works Like This:
Each state would have it's own NGO manage its own program. The basic process is to receive patients once every day and transport them to central intake. To use Ohio as an example, all patients would be transported to Columbus for 4-6 weeks of of rehab. Afterwards, the patient would choose one of approximately 5 in demand jobs needed in that state, and be transported to the city hosting that vocation. For instance, Cincinnati could host the construction trades, Cleveland could host nursing and health, etc. Training would last between one and six months depending on the vocation. Following training, the patient could temporarily remain sheltered with the program for the time needed to find a job, or, use the new nationwide network to relocate to a new city and a new life.

There are many underutilized organizations in the US that would want to participate in a program like this. Religious and social outreach groups could provide lodging and meals. Local or national employers could provide free training, in exchange for getting acquainted with some newly reinvigorated workers. And there are many Americans who would love to volunteer to be a part of the solution to one of this country's most painful epidemics.

Estimated Monthly Costs per State
Assumptions:
*3 intake locations per congressional district
*5 vocational cities per state
*Average time for completion is 6 months
*Average state population (7 million people, ~9 congressional districts)


Variable Costs per Patient
$435            Stipend to hosting organization per week per patient - $100
$435            Stipend to patient per week - $100 (to make the relocation and unemployment easier)
$130            Stipend to personal coaches per patient per month
$1,000         Total cost per patient per month

Fixed Costs per State
$40,500       Intake/delivery transportation - $50 daily stipend, 27 intake locations
$140,000     Drug rehab counselors - $7,000 per month, with assumed 20 needed at central intake
$100,000     Business/training liaisons - one senior and one junior per vocational city
$280,500     Total fixed costs per state per month ($168,300,000 Total annual fixed costs for US)


Total cost to saving 100,000 lives and filling 100,000 jobs:
$768,300,000