A new training course from the Ohio Department of Commerce will help Ohio financial professionals assist clients with the financial challenges of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid addiction. Recovery Within Reach, an effort from the Department of Commerce’s Division of Securities, has officially launched the Ohio Financial Professional’s Guide to Servicing Clients and Families Dealing with Substance Use Disorder. 

This first-of-its-kind course is designed to train Ohio’s financial advisers on the disease and help them connect their clients with critical information about treatment options, costs and funding sources. In a recent survey, Ohio advisers estimated the median financial impact of opioid addiction to be $35,000 per client per year. The survey also showed a glaring need to educate financial professionals about the prevalence and costs of addiction. The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Securities launched the Recovery Within Reach campaign to help alleviate that burden and to provide educational materials for advisers.

“Our research found that Ohio advisers underestimated the number of clients who grapple with addiction, either personally or within their families,” said Andrea Seidt, Ohio securities commissioner. “The training modules that we are releasing today will open their eyes to the impact that addictive substances are having in their communities and give them the tools they need to help their clients successfully find and pay for treatment. The modules are accessible through the campaign website, which has valuable resources that can help any Ohioan with their journey to recovery.”

A Trainer’s Unique Perspective on Opioid Use Disorder

Cheryl Canzanella, a retirement solutions adviser based in Florida, leads all the training modules with a unique perspective. Cheryl’s husband died from an overdose in 2017 after being introduced to prescription pain medication in his early 20s. That loss compelled Cheryl, who has 23 years of experience working in the financial services industry, to share her story with her professional peers after realizing the crucial role that advisers can serve for families who might be experiencing similar challenges.

“You may see the signs but may not think it’s your place to get involved,” Cheryl said. “But from a financial standpoint, you could ultimately help direct someone to the most financially efficient way to access their money through avoiding fees or taxes, set up a trust to protect their assets or just point them to treatment services in their region.”

Course Details

Trainees will learn how to identify potential issues, how to ask questions, and what actions to take to help their clients navigate the financial impacts of SUD and to connect with treatment. The course identifies resources that financial professionals can use to assist client families who are living with SUD. The course consists of three short modules, each lasting about 20 minutes, and can be completed in one sitting or separately to accommodate busy schedules:

• Module 1: Understanding the Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder & Its Effects.
• Module 2: The Financial Consequences of Substance Use Disorder.
• Module 3: The Financial Professional’s Role in Discovery and Planning.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards has approved two hours of continuing education credit for each financial professional who completes the entire online course. In-person events will also roll out across Ohio this summer. Those interested in the course, with or without credit, can enroll directly through the Recovery Within Reach website at RecoveryWithinReach.Ohio.gov.

Ohio’s Opioid Crisis

Nationally, drug overdoses cause more deaths than motor vehicle accidents and gun violence combined. Ohio has been hit particularly hard by opioid use disorder, one version of SUD, with overdoses taking thousands of lives over the last decade. Consider these statistics:

• Thirteen Ohioans die every day from unintended drug overdoses.
• Of those, 84% involve opioids.
• Ohio has the fourth-highest drug overdose death rate in the nation.

When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine took office, he issued a challenge to state agencies to find ways to address the substance abuse and mental health crisis in Ohio. He also created RecoveryOhio, an initiative to coordinate and align the state’s work to prevent, reduce, treat, and encourage long-term recovery from addiction and mental illness.

“This curriculum empowers Ohio advisers to start those important conversations with individuals who may feel recovery is out of reach,’’ said Aimee Shadwick, director of RecoveryOhio. “This is an opportunity to decrease the stigma that comes from a disease impacting so many Ohioans and get them into treatment.”

Recovery Within Reach created a new treatment locator that helps advisers and client families find nearby counseling and treatment facilities. To learn more about the campaign or access the courses and resources, visit RecoveryWithinReach.Ohio.gov.

Digital assets including video interviews, photos and graphics available for download below. Please credit Ohio Department of Commerce.

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