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Medication Assisted Treatment

At Greater Essex we provide substance use disorder treatment. Many of our patients come to us with addictions to alcohol, opiates, amphetamines, MDMA, PCP, Adderall, cocaine, benzodiazepines, Suboxone, barbiturates and marijuana. Problems that accompany substance use disorders such as stress, anger, credit, housing, and legal problems are only a few of the issues that might convince you that it is time to seek help. Take the first step to feel better, live better, and work better with medication assisted treatment.

As of 2019 85.6 % of people drank alcohol, 54.9% reported drinking in the past month, 25.8% reported binge drinking in the past month. People who drank 2 times the gender specific binge drinking thresholds were 70 times more likely to have an alcohol related emergency room visit and those who consumed at 3 times the gender specific threshold were 93 times more likely to have an alcohol related emergency room visit. It is estimated that of people 12 years old and older 14.5 million have an alcohol use disorder.

Dual Diagnosis

Many of our patients come to us for help with substance use disorders. However, due to our thorough assessment and evaluation process we often find patients suffer from underlying mental health problems. Many individuals suffering from mental health disorders turn to drugs or alcohol to feel “normal”. Over time, substance use can become habitual. Some of the more commonly treated include panic, anxiety, hyperactivity (ADD and ADHD), depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Beyond 12 Steps

While Greater Essex uses the 12-Step model in our therapeutic approach, we strive to go beyond the 12 Steps in our treatment. We believe that each patient needs a tailored, individual approach in order to optimize the likelihood of success. Our team helps with trauma, treat underlying issues, and consider each unique situation when helping develop a sober living plan tailored specifically to patient needs, which usually includes medication assisted treatment.

Alcohol

While millions of people use alcohol socially, its is also the most commonly abused substance around the world. If you no longer feel in control of your alcohol consumption, we can help.

Opiates

Millions of Americans are addicted to opiates. Pharmaceutical companies have marketed opiates as a non-addictive way to treat pain. Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycontin are all opiates that are abused after being prescribed for pain. More recently, regulatory guidelines have made it more difficult for people to legally obtain opiates which means that those previously prescribed opiates for pain must now turn to illegal means to get their medicine.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a central nervous stimulant. It causes an increase in brain activity which results in a feeling of higher energy, focus, confidence, and euphoria. Amphetamines can significantly alter the brain’s pleasure response, destroy pleasure receptors in the brain and decrease the ability for the body to feel pleasure without using the drug. Amphetamine can significantly alter the brain’s pleasure response, destroying pleasure receptors in the brain and decreasing the ability for the body to feel pleasure without using the drug. Amphetamine use can cause cardiovascular issues including stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

MDMA

Known as a party drug, MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly) is a hallucinogenic stimulant. It can lead to health problems in its users including heart or kidney failure and even death. There are recent studies measuring the effectiveness of MDMA and other psychedelics in the treatment of severe PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) as well as depression and anxiety.

PCP

Signs of PCP addiction include the inability to control one’s intake of the drug. Long-term abuse may produce serious side effects such as uncontrollable anger, suicidal thoughts, mania, flashbacks, and social isolation. PCP is especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other depressants; the combination can lead to respiratory distress or arrest, possibly resulting in death.

Adderall

Adderall is addictive mainly because of its stimulant qualities. People often take Adderall for help with focus and academic performance. It is also used to elevate mood and decrease appetite. Long-term Aderall use may cause adverse psychological effects and changes in the brain.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic narcotic frequently mixed with heroin, cocaine. It is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It is so potent it can be absorbed through the skin. There are even mor potent analogs of this substance that are so lethal they have been weaponized.

Heroin

Opiates are the gateway to heroin for many users who turn to this powerful street drug when they can no longer access prescribed medication. However, heroin is often contaminated, raising the risk of death considerably.

Cocaine

While cocaine may no longer make headlines, it is still a commonly abused and highly addictive drug. This powerful stimulant causes significant health problems in its users.

Benzodiazepines

Many people use benzodiazepines as prescribed, under the supervision of a doctor. Drugs like Xanax, Ativan, Librium, Klonopin, and Valium all have legitimate medical uses. However, they are also highly addictive and can be deadly, especially if combined with other drugs.

Suboxone

Suboxone is often used to help opiate l abusers stabilize a patient and keep them from withdrawal during detoxification. It is also used for maintenance treatment to promote recovery. Misuse of suboxone can cause immediate withdrawal symptoms, overdose and respiratory depression.

Vivitrol/Naltrexone

Vivitrol is the injectable brand name version of naltrexone that can be used to help people maintain abstinence while recovering from an opioid or alcohol dependence. Other formulations of naltrexone are available in oral tablet form, but Vivitrol is administered as an intramuscular solution once per month as part of a medication assisted treatment plan.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are often prescribed to reduce anxiety, respiration, blood pressure, heart rate and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, in higher doses barbiturates can actually increase some types of behavior and act like a stimulant. Because of its relaxing effects on many of the body’s organs, long-term barbiturate use can lead to breathing problems and pneumonia. Long-term use can also cause sexual dysfunction, delayed reflexes, a short attention span, and memory loss.

Marijuana

With the push for legalization in many States, people assume that marijuana is a harmless drug. For many casual users it is. However, it can be disruptive for others who may experience dependency or addiction. If your marijuana usage is interfering with your life, we can help.