When faced with addiction, seeking treatment shouldn’t depend on the type of insurance card in your wallet. Yet for decades, the quality of care has often hinged on whether someone carries private insurance or relies on Medicaid. One former addict, who once found himself homeless and waitlisted for treatment, is working to change this reality. Through innovative treatment centers and a fresh approach to recovery programs, Adam Gunton is reshaping how the industry thinks about addiction care – proving that comprehensive treatment can and should be accessible to everyone who wants help.
Redefining Addiction Recovery
For Adam, recovery goes far beyond simply getting clean. “What recovery is really about is not just gaining back what you lost, but gaining a life you’ve never had,” he explains. “Now all those visions and dreams that you had as a kid are able to come back into the picture and you’re able to work on them.” This philosophy shapes his work at Radix Recovery, a treatment center under construction in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The facility breaks from traditional models by offering high-end amenities like pickleball courts, cold plunge pools, saunas, massage, and acupuncture to all patients – regardless of their insurance status.
“Eighty percent of all addiction reimbursements and claims last year were for private health insurance, but 80% of people with substance use disorder are either on Medicaid or Medicaid eligible,” Adam notes. Having experienced the limitations of access firsthand while on Medicaid, he’s committed to changing this dynamic. “What we believe is that anybody who actually wants to recover should have access to the treatment they need.”
Building Better Treatment Programs
Adam’s approach emphasizes creating consistency throughout the recovery journey. “A big thing I see in the treatment space is an incongruent message from the time somebody’s looking online to what the person gets when they walk in the center to what they expect when they leave,” he explains.
To address this, Radix Recovery offers a complete continuum of care – from detox through outpatient services – all under one roof. This model helps prevent what Adam calls “institutional trauma” where patients repeatedly have to share their story with new therapists at different facilities. “We’re making it so that you are in one community. You only have to share with one community,” he says.
Leveraging Personal Experiences
Having shared his own recovery story on platforms like TEDx, Adam understands the unique impact of first-hand experiences. “When we’re talking about addiction recovery stories, it’s all about relatability and connection,” he explains. “We can talk to a therapist our entire life, but if that therapist hasn’t been through addiction, they can’t say ‘I understand.'” This insight shapes his approach to youth prevention as well. Rather than following traditional “just say no” messaging, Adam’s nonprofit Recovered On Purpose coaches recovery speakers to share authentic experiences: “Instead of telling them what not to do, we should be inspiring them and doing programs to help them achieve their dreams.”
Despite the challenges of building treatment centers and programs from scratch, Adam maintains an unwavering positive outlook. “I smile because this is something I get to overcome again,” he says. “There is nothing that can come at me in my life with what I’ve been through in the past that can compare.” This resilience stems from a core principle learned from his mentor: “I am 100% responsible. Everything that I experience, feel, think, all of the results of my life, the consequences, everything – I take 100% responsibility for.”
Building for the Future
Through his work with Behavioral Health Partners, Adam continues developing treatment centers built on congruent messaging and comprehensive care. “We’re building treatment centers from the ground up, helping with licensing, accreditation, program development, marketing, branding – all that stuff,” he explains. “We’re selective. We work with people that are in it for the right reasons.” His message for those still struggling with addiction is clear: “It comes down to you. Period. The cavalry ain’t coming. Whatever path you see that you need to do to recover, do it, and give it your 100% effort as if your life depends on it – because it does.”
To learn more about Adam’s work in addiction treatment and recovery, visit his LinkedIn profile.