Her Son Died After Staying at a Shady Sober Living Home

Bradlee Russell, a 27-year-old who struggled with drug addiction, died after staying in a group sober living home in Surprise, Arizona. His mother, Tracy Bilyeu, alleges that he did not receive the proper care and supervision in the home, citing drug paraphernalia scattered around the premises. Despite her son’s struggle, Bilyeu remained in constant contact with him. The sober living home where Russell stayed has been accused of misconduct, and over 100 other providers have been suspended by state lawmakers. This followed an announcement from Attorney General Kris Mayes that hundreds of millions of dollars were defrauded by such homes. She disclosed that some fraudulent homes billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) with purchased lists of names and birth dates without providing any care. Some rehab homes allegedly targeted vulnerable Native Americans, providing them with alcohol and drugs instead of necessary treatment. Despite a focus on Native Americans, Bilyeu insists that these malpractices affected everyone, not just one group. After Russell’s death from an overdose, Bilyeu has called for increased state oversight to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Main Takeaways:

1. Bradlee Russell, a 27-year-old struggling with drug addiction, died after staying in a group home with alleged inadequate supervision and care.
2. Russell’s mother, Tracy Bilyeu has been vocal about the issues in these homes, stating that they were unsupervised and filled with drug paraphernalia.
3. State lawmakers have suspended over 100 rehab home providers after discovering fraudulent billing practices to AHCCCS, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
4. Some rehab homes are accused of specifically targeting vulnerable Native Americans, offering them alcohol and drugs instead of treatment.
5. Despite the focus on Native Americans, Bilyeu claims these fraudulent practices are widespread and affect many different groups.
6. Following her son’s death, Bilyeu is calling for increased state oversight to prevent similar tragedies in other families.

Source: 12News.com