COLUMBUS, Ohio — Financial professionals are better positioned to be the first line of defense in the battle against mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD) thanks to Recovery Within Reach, a national continuing education (CE) course developed and launched by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Securities. This first-ever national training, which includes national experts, data and resources, educates and equips financial and insurance professionals with critical information needed to help clients and their families navigate the financial and emotional costs of SUD and mental illness. The course also offers one continuing education credit from NASAA.

A financial adviser in North Carolina significantly changed the way he serves his clients after years of dealing with the emotional and financial toll SUD took on his own family.

“It not only affects the person who is going though recovery, but it affects the entire family, including the family finances, because addiction is expensive and can add up very quickly,” said Michael Lewis, Family Legacy Financial Solutions. “One of the best partners a family can have is a financial professional who can manage their assets and build some protective parameters. This support can save a family and save a life.”

The Prevalence of SUD and Mental Illness

Nationally, SUDs and mental health issues continue to have a devastating impact in the U.S.

• 1 in 4 Americans live with a mental disease or SUD.
• More than 45 million people in the U.S. experienced an SUD in 2023.
• More than 107,500 people died from a drug-involved overdose in 2023 and more than 48,000 died by suicide.
• 75% of people with SUD reported that a legal prescription drug started their opioid use.

“It’s frustrating because these disorders of the brain, which impact people of all ages, races and socioeconomic status, are treated differently from other diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure,” said Dr. David Streem, Cleveland Clinic medical director of the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center. “Yet, when the treatment for hypertension is about 45-50% successful that’s called a success and when the treatment for addiction is about the same, it’s called a failure. That’s where the stigma becomes real.”

Course Details

The CE course, Supporting Clients Through the Financial Challenges of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, consists of three self-paced video modules, each lasting approximately 20 minutes.

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

The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Securities developed and launched an Ohio-specific course in 2023 after a statewide survey found that their financial advisers underestimated the number of clients grappling with addiction, either personally or within their families. National and state agencies took notice with companies like Nationwide Insurance requiring the Ohio course for its financial professionals across the country.

“Recovery Within Reach is more than a course. It is an essential tool for comprehensive client care that you can easily integrate into your team’s professional development,” said Andrea Seidt, Ohio securities commissioner. “You will address one of today’s most urgent financial and social challenges and could potentially change or save a person’s life.”

The course is free and is now available online at RecoveryWithinReachCourse.org.

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