Nobody Was Getting Better | The Current

Welcome back to The Current, your source for the latest news, perspective and resources from Oar Health.

The Oar Perspective: Nobody Was Getting Better

“People starting naltrexone don’t need a weekly appointment. They need someone available when the questions actually arise.

“At ten at night, when a side effect hits. On a Sunday morning, when they’re not sure whether to take the medication before a family dinner.”

That’s the fundamental insight behind Oar Health’s coaching model: National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches who have worked with thousands of naltrexone patients, available in the moments that matter most. For all Oar Health members, included in the cost of their subscription memberships.

Oar Health Director of Coaching Karen Dion recently explained why she built the model that way and how she found naltrexone in the first place in a guest post on Dr. Joseph Volpicelli’s Substack. Read the whole story here.

Resource Of The Month: AUDIT-C

It's normal to question whether we are drinking too much.

And it's healthy to assess.

It's also easy.

There's a reliable, valid tool called the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Concise. Or, AUDIT-C for short.

It's just three questions long. Questions about how often you drink alcohol, how many drinks you typically have, and how often you have six or more.

It produces reliable results. Whether your alcohol use poses low, moderate, or high risk to your health. And practical guidance on what to do next.

We've made it easy to complete the AUDIT-C, so you can get objective feedback on how much you're drinking and evidence-based next steps.

It's free to complete the AUDIT-C below.

All of your answers and recommendations are private.

What you do with the information is up to you. Take the AUDIT-C here.

Oar Member Story: One Year On Naltrexone

"I have been on Naltrexone for a year now.

I am grateful for the dramatic impact it has had. I can’t say that I don’t have urges to drink periodically, but I can manage them.

And I largely don’t miss the drinking. When there are times when it is appropriate to drink socially, I have also been able to limit myself to two drinks for the evening.

That is a huge difference for how I used to be. I have begun reducing my dosage and I’m still experiencing the same great results."

Trustpilot Review, July 10th, 2026

Episode Of The Month: Thriving With Addiction

Thriving With Addiction is hosted by psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Avery. Through conversations with experts, people in recovery, and clinicians on the frontlines, the show explores how individuals and families can better understand addiction and move toward lasting healing.

This month, Oar Health CEO Jonathan Hunt-Glassman joined Dr. Avery for a conversation about Moderation with Medication. They discussed Jonathan’s use of naltrexone to moderate alcohol use and Dr. Avery’s advocacy for wider use of naltrexone by patients pursuing sobriety or moderation.

Watch the episode here.

AUD In The News

Health Risks Of Alcohol Accelerate After One Drink A Day, Study Finds | New York Times

“For people who have one drink a day on average, the researchers found, there was an increased risk of premature death from an illness or injury directly attributable to alcohol, though it was small — one in 1,000 people. But the risk of premature death jumped to one in 25 for those who had two drinks a day, a level long considered safe for men, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.”

What It’s Like To Use Naltrexone And Other Drugs | The Small Bow

“I’ll be celebrating my 3 year soberversary next month. Naltrexone was the key to me getting sober finally at age 66. I had not been able to stay sober for 30 days previously in all my adult life. I understand it doesn’t work for everyone but it did for me.”

Nudges Increase Prescription Of Drinking Medications | Penn Medicine

“‘Nationally, because of stigma and a lack of awareness, we are missing out on a huge opportunity to offer effective treatment to patients who struggle with alcohol,’ said first author Jeffrey Ebert, PhD, the director of Applied Behavioral Science at Penn Medicine’s Nudge Unit. ‘Our work shows that it only takes a small adjustment to make a huge impact on who gets the medicine they need.’”