VIDEO – ONE BAD APPLE? –
Aug. 26, 2024 – In the labyrinth of addiction recovery, where hope and despair often intertwine, a dark and insidious practice known as patient brokering, or “body brokering”, thrives. This unethical, and sometimes deadly, exploitation of individuals seeking help for substance use and mental health issues has become a malignant undercurrent in the treatment industry.
This unethical, and sometimes deadly, exploitation of individuals seeking help for substance use and mental health issues has become a malignant undercurrent in the treatment industry.
Understanding Body Brokering
Body brokering involves the illicit recruitment of individuals into substance abuse treatment centers, often through deceptive or coercive means, for financial gain. Brokers are paid by treatment centers, usually unethical ones, to deliver patients who bring with them lucrative insurance policies. These brokers often frequent recovery meetings, detox centers, and online forums, preying on individuals such as the homeless, who are at their lowest points. The financial incentives tied to patient recruitment create a perverse system where the focus shifts from patient care to profit margins.
