Co-located with Maryland Wellness, the new clinic provides in-person medication-assisted treatment for fentanyl, meth, heroin, alcohol and other substances, bringing new hope to Baltimore County residents.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, xylazine, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients in Park Heights. Just a short walk from the Rogers Ave Metro Station, the newly established low-barrier clinic at 4128 Hayward Ave. is dedicated to offering primarily buprenorphine-based treatment to help individuals reclaim their lives.

Dominating headlines and infiltrating the illicit drug supply, fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose fatalities in Maryland. According to the Maryland Overdose Data Dashboard, there were 2,056 overdose deaths in the state due to fentanyl in the 12-month period ending in May 2023. Baltimore alone has the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the country, according to a nationwide tracker of drug overdose deaths released by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The dangerous practice of mixing fentanyl with other illicit substances such as xylazine to intensify addiction, often unbeknownst to the user, has made polysubstance use disorder the prevailing diagnosis at Ideal Option. Their 2022 Annual Patient Outcomes Report, which aggregates lab testing results from nearly 1,000 patients in Maryland, reveals that more than 50% of patients tested positive for multiple substances upon enrollment, with 22% testing positive for three or more.

The report does offer hope, however, by underscoring the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment in combating both isolated and polysubstance use. For patients who remained in Ideal Option’s care throughout 2022, lab testing results show remarkable reductions in substance use:

• 96% less total opioid use
• 98% less fentanyl use
• 99% less heroin use
• 92% less cocaine use

The new clinic in Park Heights is Ideal Option’s eighth standalone location in Maryland and is opening at a time of desperate need for expanded access to evidence-based treatment from experienced providers. Ideal Option has been specializing in addiction medicine for over 11 years, using buprenorphine-based medications such as Suboxone®, and currently operates 89 clinics across 9 states.

“As Baltimore natives, myself and our peer outreach specialist, Ricky Ferrante, are grateful for the opportunity to bring this life-saving treatment to underserved populations in our community,” said Shanade Wells, community outreach coordinator for Ideal Option. “If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or access to healthcare services, please drop by our ‘Testing for Turkeys’ resource event on Friday, November 17, 10 a.m. at Bel Park Towers.”

The new outpatient clinic in Baltimore is open Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 4128 Hayward Ave.

Most forms of insurance are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid, and patients can typically get started on treatment for fentanyl, heroin, alcohol or other substances within 1-3 business days.

Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting www.idealoption.com.

About Ideal Option

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped more than 70,000 patients through a network of 89 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 9 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts most forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.

Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.

Media Contact

Olivia Roe, Ideal Option, 1 9199466644, [email protected], www.idealoption.com

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SOURCE Ideal Option

Beyond Capital Ventures (BCV), a leading venture capital firm with a focus on emerging markets, is pleased to announce its investment in Lapaire, the leading Pan-African eyecare company leveraging innovative technology to provide free vision tests and affordable eyewear options to the lower- and middle-income African population. BCV’s participation in Lapaire’s Series B investment round demonstrates the firm’s focus on supporting conscious leaders in one of the top emerging markets destinations worldwide.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Beyond Capital Ventures (BCV), a leading venture capital firm with a focus on emerging markets, is pleased to announce its investment in Lapaire, the leading Pan-African eyecare company leveraging innovative technology to provide free vision tests and affordable eyewear options to the lower- and middle-income African population. BCV’s participation in Lapaire’s Series B investment round demonstrates the firm’s focus on supporting conscious leaders in one of the top emerging markets destinations worldwide.

Africa has a population of 550 million with untreated vision problems who lack access to affordable and reliable eyecare services that meet their needs. These customers often rely on conventional opticians or nonprofits to provide inadequate products and services. The company aims to improve the lives of this demographic through a strong customer-centric approach targeting low-income customers focusing on the transparency in prices and excellence in customer service. The company provides free eye tests to enable immediate results, affordable yet quality products and flexible payment options.

Founded in 2018 by JIrTme Lapaire, a Swiss-born lawyer and entrepreneur, Lapaire targets underserved, low-income, and price-sensitive customers. Forty-five percent of Lapaire’s customers are under the national median income, and 70% are either first-time glasses wearers or have been previously unable to afford a pair. Lapaire’s Series B round will allow the company to invest in more than 450 branches across new and existing markets, purchase new testing equipment, and expand production facilities. The company’s ambitious goals include growing to 500 stores by 2027 and launching into five new markets including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Louis Gascoin, the company’s Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) who brings over a decade of retail development experience in West Africa, joined the firm in 2021.

“Our company is on a mission to revolutionize the eyewear sector in Africa,” said Lapaire, Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “Adopting a pan-African expansion strategy allows more people to benefit from our free services and very affordable products ; and positions us as one of the most dynamic companies in the field of vision care.”

Beyond Capital Ventures prioritizes equitable gender representation as a benchmark for their portfolio companies, and Lapaire exemplifies this by boasting a strong female-led executive team, with women holding three out of seven senior management positions.

Eva Yazhari, General Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures, expressed her team’s belief in Lapaire’s vision for the future: “Lapaire has already impacted more than 200,000 lives to date through free eye tests and eyewear sales, which has led to improved productivity, increased earning potential, and better educational outcomes for individuals across the continent. It is this commitment to solutions delivering returns on multiple levels (financial and societal impact) in emerging markets that Beyond Capital Ventures is founded upon.”

ABOUT LAPAIRE

Lapaire is an African eyecare business founded by JIrTme Lapaire in 2018, headquartered in Abidjan, CTte d’Ivoire. Lapaire, a Swiss lawyer and entrepreneur, started the company after realizing that access to eyecare services was a pervasive problem in Kenya, as consulting an eye specialist and getting eyeglasses required a lot of time and money that most people could not afford. With the name Lapaire meaning “a pair of” in French, JIrTme set up a small team and launched Lapaire with the goal of providing free vision tests, quality eyeglasses, and top-notch customer service. His co-founder, Louis Gascoin, joined the firm in 2021. The company now operates 54 optical shops across seven African countries with more than 300 employees, including eyecare professionals. With a goal to be the go-to eyewear brand in Africa, Lapaire is planning to open more branches in major cities before venturing into secondary cities. The company is also planning to expand in countries where it already operates, starting with more locations in Uganda, and West Africa. The firm is constantly innovating and spends time raising awareness about eyecare.

Visit Lapaire for more information.

ABOUT BEYOND CAPITAL VENTURES

Beyond Capital Ventures is a diversified emerging markets venture capital firm, building a diversified, dynamic, and de-risked portfolio with a strong impact mandate. The firm invests in the next wave of innovations that address the growing needs of 1B+ consumers in Africa and India. Beyond Capital Ventures final closed in November 2022 and backs conscious leaders building businesses to address growing demand in “need-to-have” sectors, primarily in healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion. The fund also pioneers an Equitable Venture structure that provides founders in the portfolio with a profit share in the GP carry.

Visit Beyond Capital Ventures for more information.

This notice does not constitute an offer to sell any security. Any offer will be made only by delivery of a complete private placement memorandum.

Media Contact

Isabelle Schmidt, Beyond Capital Ventures, 1 9789444887, isabelle@beyondcapitalventures.com

SOURCE Beyond Capital Ventures