Aetna taps online social network to aid addicts

Aetna Inc. announced today it is the first managed care company to offer members undergoing addiction treatment access to a leading online social network for recovering addicts.

Aetna Behavorial Health in Hartford and OneRecovery Inc., founded in 2007 in Del Mar, Calif., by a recovering addict, announced today their agreement to share online social networking and mobile tools to link alcohol and drug addicts and health care professionals. Terms were not disclosed.

Aetna said it is integrating the OneRecovery program into its alcohol disease management and intensive care management programs, with plans down the road to integrate into the employee assistance program.

"We know that social networking has the power to connect people like never before,'' said Louise Murphy, head of Aetna Behavioral Health.

Aetna members enrolled in its continuum of care network can set up an account at OneRecovery.com for free.