As the opioid epidemic continues to claim nearly 200 American lives per day, addiction treatment remains a complex science to handle. Withdrawals from opioid addiction are difficult and often deadly, which makes relapse more likely. This epidemic has become highly politicized, making it ever more difficult for clinics to get the tools and funding they need.

OpiAID, a Wilmington-based startup created to address this problem, is offering machine-learning data science solutions to addiction recovery centers. Clinics that provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can use opiAID to provide data-backed, personalized recovery plans for patients being treated for substance abuse disorder.

OpiAID won the Top Ten Startups To Watch at the NC TECH Awards of 2020. The startup won a $276k SBIR federal grant to conduct the research necessary to develop its unique algorithm.

The software will be launching in June, so before this exciting debut, we grabbed a moment of co-founder David Reeser’s time.

Michael, Cofounder of Blue Mind: “OpiAID is intended to help addiction recovery centers improve the outcomes of Medication Assisted Treatment. Can you describe exactly how it works?”

David Reeser, Cofounder of opiAID: “opiAID is a software tool that integrates into the electronic health record systems of clinics providing MAT treatment — basically, doctors who prescribe drugs that curb your cravings for illicit drugs, and then use therapy and other techniques to help you achieve stability in your recovery and put your life back together again. You know, MAT is great, but [can be] ineffective because they can’t keep people in treatment. Our goal with the software is to use predictive analytics to help them stratify the risk of individuals in treatment, identify who’s going to relapse before they do, and then improve retention. If we can keep one more person in treatment — the average today is one out of three — so if we can make it two out of three, we will forever change the world of substance use treatment.”

Michael: “You launched OpiAID in October of 2018. This was a bit of a departure from your previous enterprise, a cloud infrastructure company. How did OpiAID come to be?”

David: “I connected somehow if we can only be sensitive enough to see the pattern. And my background is in healthcare: I was in patient care for 15 years. So my first love professionally has always been healthcare and being a part of a solution. So when opioid addiction became the focus, I [said], this is something I can get behind.”

Michael: “I understand you’re interested in using OpiAID to track biometrics as well. How would that work, and how does it support MAT?”

David: “[We’re measuring] individuals who are stable in their treatment so that we can unlock the biometric algorithm of withdrawals — when they’re craving. We’re not making a wearable. The whole point is to have a device that you currently own, connect that through an app to our cloud platform, and then be able to aggregate those findings. As long as you’re using a class two medical device, [OpiAID] will be able to take those data points and contextualize them for you personally.”

Michael: “What is OpiAID’s mission and why is it important to you?”

David: “I truly believe that substance use disorder or addiction is a physiological response, not a moral failing. So the way that we’re building this solution is honoring our neighbors who are recovering by using technology in a meaningful way. By providing a technological footprint, we can give them a better chance. We’re helping them do the work, supporting them, and walking alongside them while they do the hard work of recovery.”

Michael: “The phrase “Blue Mind” is based on scientific studies showing that people are happier and more productive when they are near water. This is a major part of Wilmington’s appeal as well as the core philosophy of Blue Mind Coworking. What do water and the ocean mean to you?”

David: “I think being close to the ocean and being one with wilderness — and the ocean is true wilderness — gets us connected more to what makes us naturally human. We’re the only species that can operate on two systems, emotional and logic, and the ocean reminds us how small we are in the world, but also that we’re all connected.”

Michael: “Absolutely. How does that play out in Wilmington’s entrepreneurial community?”

David: “While I’m running OpiAID and this is my passion, I also have a desire to help our ecosystem here. I’m deeply passionate about seeing people win, particularly in our town. I want to see so many success stories that the news stream is almost nauseating to read through.”

Michael: “What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?”

David: “If you’re an entrepreneur, I would say that if you’re working in any field, the number one way to succeed is by being perseverant. if you truly have a vision, and it’s more than just a good idea, but it’s something you’re passionate about, keep moving.”

Wrapping Up

David is dedicating his life’s work to people that he doesn’t even personally know, and we believe that is something to be celebrated. It’s hard to find people like Mr. Reeser in the modern world, but Wilmington seems to have a higher concentration than any other city. Why? Because the people of this city are all affected in some way by the Blue Mind philosophy, whether they realize it or not.

Our connection to the ocean doesn’t just allow us to have more fun in the summer. It creates a calm, inviting, and open place where new ideas are welcomed and innovations for the people are praised. At Blue Mind Coworking we fully embody this ‘blue mind’ philosophy for life, and we believe that is why there are more people like David here than anywhere else. The most popular, most inviting places to live don’t always attract the best people, but Wilmington lies in a completely different category.

To learn more about amenities, networking, and entrepreneurial support programs at Blue Mind Coworking, request membership information here. If you’d like to speak with us directly, click here to contact us. We would love to discuss your needs and figure out how we can help.