Tackling Addiction with Integrated Care

Abstract

Addiction is recognised as one of the chronic illnesses, often leading to medical, psychological, economic, and social problems, making multi-dimensional care for these people within the existing system a challenge. This loads an already loaded primary and secondary care system. The Verslavingskoepel Kempen (VKK) is an initiative to answer this challenge as it aims to integrate the care provided by the zeroth to third-line care around addiction treatment. Zeroth refers to the care and support provided by the human context of the patients, such as family and peers. This extends the integrated care model that is suggested by the WHO. The aim of the dissertation is firstly, to identify the organizational aspects crucial for the success of the network. The Findings show that success is confirmed by participating local communities when highlighting the importance of the intramural connection between their community social services and professionals, hospitals, and experience holders. All interviewees recognize collateral and process leadership with resources emerging from different partners and without hierarchical management. The second aim considers whether success must be attributed to the instrumental organizational aspects of the collaboration or the values of the different care-givers. The Findings show that in this network the organizational aspects and the caregivers’ values are complementary. The third aim is to develop conclusions on the transferability of the network model. This is confirmed; however, the governmental policy is not accompanied by a funding system within the institutionalized remuneration and reimbursement structure. It makes the initiative dependent on the motivation of partner organizations to participate financially, raises doubt about the sustainability of the initiative, and sets conditions for as well as limitations on transferability.