Responding to Crisis New Perspectives launches new opiate program
Each four-hour session consists of process groups or video presentations on opioids or other drugs, group therapy, psychoeducation to address psychological, social and physical consequences, and education on chemical health awareness. Individual and family counseling is scheduled as needed. Medication-assisted therapy is also an important part of the opiate addiction treatment program at New Perspectives. In recent years, one of the major advances in addiction treatment has been the development of medications such as suboxone that are designed to ease withdrawal from heroin and other addictive substances. New Perspectives refers opiate-addicted clients to local clinics and physicians who can administer suboxone or methadone to ease withdrawal symptoms. through the initial withdrawal stages, then we are able to work with them,” Evans says. “ ey can concentrate on the program and not on their aches and pains.” As a result, clients have a much better chance at recovering, he notes. “Once we get clients into medication- assisted treatment and they get
“If you want to be a winner, you’ve got to hang with winners.” – Ray Evans
As the recent overdose death of Minnesota pop-music superstar Prince highlighted, the United States, Minnesota and the Twin Cities area are in the midst of an epidemic of opiate misuse and addiction. e opiate addiction crisis has been documented by emergency rooms across the state, says Ray Evans, clinical supervisor at New Perspectives. “We’ve been seeing more and more people overdosing statewide and nationwide,” Evans says. In response to the need, New Perspectives Behavioral Health recently began o ering an intensive outpatient treatment program to serve those who are addicted to opiates. e program’s objective is to reduce relapse, accidental overdose and admission to emergency rooms, and to increase recovery rates for those struggling with addiction to heroin or any other type of opioid. New Perspectives o ers both outpatient day and evening programs and intensive outpatient care with a lodging option.
Director John Woods in front of the New Perspectives entrance
Inside New Perspectives
Vital education Program sessions take place four times per week for seven weeks (28 four-hour sessions). is is followed by continuing care, which meets for two four-hour sessions per week, then once weekly for four weeks. e average program totals 200 hours, but may be adjusted based on each client’s needs and progress in recovery. • e program provides information and education in six vital topic areas, including: • Acute intoxication and withdrawal potential • Biomedical conditions • Emotional/behavior/cognitive problem checklist • Readiness to change • Continued use and continued problem potential • A ercare to prevent relapse “You can have support 24/7 from people around you who have been there and done that.” – Ray Evans, clinical supervisor, New Perspectives
Long-term recovery e program also provides referrals to post-treatment, supportive housing in which recovering opiate users live together in small groups, attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and provide mutual support. Living in supportive recovery housing has proven to be e ective in helping clients avoid relapse and establish a solid foundation for long-term recovery, Evans says. In supportive housing “you can have support 24/7 from people around you who have been there and done that.’’
e small-group setting gives clients an opportunity to observe what other people are doing to achieve long-term recovery, he says. “If you want to be a winner, you’ve got to hang with winners.”
Since New Perspectives launched the opiate addiction treatment program several months ago, the response from the local community has con rmed the need, Evans says. “It’s starting to take o ; it seems to be something that people are looking for.”
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