Substance Use Evaluation
A Comprehensive Substance Use Evaluation by the Psychiatric/Medical Provider Includes:
Evaluating the individual for substance use disorder
Perform a Psychiatric Evaluation while assessing the addiction and progression & assessing for co-occuring illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar etc.)
Performs a physical exam to determine if there are any physical or mental health concerns, as well as polysubstance use (multiple substances)
Assesses how substance use may be affecting your life negatively
Allowing the treatment team to establish a baseline and build a treatment plan for your needs and recovery.
Facilitate to a higher level of care if we don't fit your needs.
Counseling & support meetings. May be referred if necessary
Medication Assisted Treatment
Opioid & Alcohol Use Disorder
Difference Between Addiction & Dependence
Addiction—or compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences—is characterized by an inability to stop using a drug; failure to meet work, social, or family obligations; and, sometimes (depending on the drug), tolerance and withdrawal. The latter reflect physical dependence in which the body adapts to the drug, requiring more of it to achieve a certain effect (tolerance) and eliciting drug-specific physical or mental symptoms if drug use is abruptly ceased (withdrawal). Physical  dependence can happen with the chronic use of many drugs—including many prescription drugs, even if taken as instructed. Thus, physical dependence in and of itself does not constitute addiction, but it often accompanies addiction. This distinction can be difficult to discern, particularly with prescribed pain medications, for which the need for increasing dosages can represent tolerance or a worsening underlying problem, as opposed to the beginning of abuse or addiction.
MEDICALLY-assisted treatment is the use of anti-craving medications such as naltrexone (Vivitrol), buprenorphine (Suboxone)— along with comprehensive therapy and support — to help address issues related to opioid dependence, including withdrawal, cravings and relapse prevention. Evidenced-based treatment approaches like this are often needed to successfully overcome addiction and maintain long-term recovery. Each indiviual is given a comprehensive evaluation to come up with a treatment plan that best fits their needs.
Suboxone
Opioid Use Disorder
Suboxone, a combination medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone, is one of the main medications used for medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for opiate addiction. Use of MATs has been shown to lower the risk of fatal overdoses by approximately 50%. Suboxone works by tightly binding to the same receptors in the brain as other opiates, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. By doing so, it blunts intoxication with these other drugs, it prevents cravings, and it allows many people to transition back from a life of addiction to a life of relative normalcy and safety.
Vivitrol/Naltrexone
Opioid Use Disorder
Vivitrol, or naltrexone. is another choice for medication assisted treatment. Vivitrol acts as an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the brain’s receptors from binding with any opioid molecules and reduces cravings for opioids after detox. Vivitrol does not cause the same dopamine release that opioid molecules do when they have bound to receptors, so there is no high associated with use of this drug. The benefit of this option is that it is a once-a-month injection and does not require the patient to stay on top of a daily regimen. Vivitrol can be a risky treatment option for anyone who may relapse immediately before or during treatment, so it is only given to patients who have been off of opioids for one to two weeks. Since the drug blocks opioid receptors entirely, it can cause sudden withdrawal in patients who have recently stopped using or severe overdose in patients who relapse during treatment.
Medication Assisted Treatment
Alcohol Use Disorder
Vivitrol, or naltrexone, is an opioid antagonist. (It was also approved for the treatment of opioid addiction in 2010.) Taken orally each day or by monthly injection, Vivitrol works to block the opioid receptors, or pleasure centers, in the brain. In effect, alcohol can’t get to them and the reward center is not activated. This reduces the craving to drink and also eliminates the euphoric or reward-based feelings that accompany drinking. Unlike Antabuse, Vivitrol isn’t designed to stop an individual from drinking by bringing on negative side effects. If an individual drinks while taking Vivitrol, the experience, positive or negative, is essentially canceled out.
Campral, or acamprosate calcium, is designed to reduce the positive response to drinking and thus reduce cravings. An individual should be weaning down on alcohol, can still drink while taking this drug.
Like Antabuse, and Vivitrol for alcohol, Campral is only effective when it’s taken. That might seem obvious, but to many family members or loved ones looking to these drugs as a potential lifeline to the alcoholic in their life, it’s important to note that these drugs work best when an individual is actually motivated to quit drinking, and engaged in some type of therapy, such as meetings, counseling and a psych evaluation in advised.
MAT Plan
Medication Assited Treatment
Initial intake Substance Use Assessment
Psychiatric Evalutaion
Urine Drug Screen Initial & Random
Medication Managemnet
Close Follow Up
Referral for Group Counseling & Or Trauma as needed