specializing in addiction recovery
CALL TODAY
4595 Towne Lake Parkway, Building 300, Suite 100 Woodstock, GA 30189
706.768.6695
GAPSGA.COM
About US HELPING OUR CLIENTS BRIDGE THE GAPS! At GAPS, we believe people have value and their concerns are real. We also believe our clients already possess the ability to overcome life's challenges, they simply need a helping, healing hand. GAPS focuses on how people function both personally and in their relationships at all ages.We oer counseling to address the emotional, social, work, school and physical health concerns people may have at dierent stages in their lives, focusing on typical life stresses and more severe issues with which people may struggle as individuals and as a part of families, groups and organizations. GAPS helps people with physical, emotional and mental health issues improve their sense of well‐being, alleviate feelings of distress and resolve crises. Substance Abuseerapy and Assessments Addiction/Substance Abuse is a condition in which the body must have a drug to avoid physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addiction’s rst stage is dependence, during which the search for a drug dominates an individual’s life. An addict eventually develops tolerance, which forces the person to consume larger and larger doses of the drug to get the same eect. As you probably already know, addiction can consume lives and cause a vast array of terrible problems for individuals and for the people who love them. e good news is that there is real hope. No matter how many times a person has relapsed, there is a solution if there is just a small amount of willingness. GAPS specializes in a variety of addiction counseling including alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, codependency, and more. Call or email today and let us help you or your loved one through the craziness of addiction. Individualerapy Individual therapy (sometimes called “psychotherapy” or “counseling”) is a process through which clients work one-on-one with a trained therapist—in a safe, caring, and con dential environment—to explore their feelings, beliefs, or behaviors, work through challenging or inuential memories, identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward desired change. People seek therapy for a wide variety of reasons, from coping with major life challenges or childhood trauma, to dealing with depression or anxiety, to simply desiring personal growth and greater self-knowledge. A client and therapist may work together for as few as ve or six sessions or as long as several years, depending on the client’s unique needs and personal goals for therapy.
Grouperapy Group therapy provides treatment in a format where there is typically one therapist and six to twelve participants with related problems. Sometimes a therapist may recommend group therapy over individual psychotherapy for a variety of reasons. It may be that the group format is better suited for the person or the concern they are dealing with, or that the speci c type of treatment has a group therapy component. People in group therapy improve not only from the interventions of the therapist, but also from observing others in the group and receiving feedback from group members.e group format, while not providing the one-on-one attention of individual formats, has several advantages. e advantages of group therapy include: Increased feedback Group therapy can provide the patient with feedback from other people. Getting dierent perspectives is often helpful in promoting growth and change. Modeling By seeing how others handle similar problems, the patient can rapidly add new coping methods to his or her behaviors.is is bene cial in that it can give the patient a variety of perspectives on what seem to work and when. Example Mary listens to Joan talk about how telling her husband that he hurt her feelings was more productive than simply getting angry at him and not speaking. As she listens, Mary thinks of how she might try this same strategy with her husband. She can then try out this new behavior by practicing with the men in the group.
Less expensive By treating several patients simultaneously, the therapist can reduce the usual fee. In most cases the cost of group therapy is about one-third that of Since so much of our daily interaction is with other people, many people learn to improve their social skills in group therapy (even though such an issue may not be the focus of the group).e group leader, a therapist, often helps people to learn to communicate more clearly and eectively with one another in the group context.is is inevitably leads to people learning new social skills which they can generalize and use in all of their relationships with others. Unlike individual therapy sessions, group therapy oers participants the opportunity to interact with others with similar issues in a safe, supportive environment. Participants can try out new behaviors, role play, and engage with others in not only receiving valuable feedback and insight from other group members, but also in giving it. Many people who have never tried group therapy before are frightened by the idea. Sharing intimate information and details about one’s life (and problems) can be challenging enough to do with a single therapist.To do so with six other strangers might seem overwhelming. For this reason, for most people group therapy is usually not the rst treatment option oered. individual therapy. Improve social skills
Most people who try group therapy do become comfortable and familiar with the process over a short period of time (within a few weeks).ere are clinicians and researchers who also claim that the group psychotherapy process produces stronger and longer-lasting results for many people, as compared to individual psychotherapy. As the group members begin to feel more comfortable, you will be able to speak freely.e psychological safety of the group will allow the expression of those feelings which are often dicult to express outside of group. You will begin to ask for the support you need. You will be encouraged tell people what you expect of them. In a group, you probably will be most helped and satis ed if you talk about your feelings. It is important to keep in mind that you are the one who determines how much you disclose in a group. You will not be forced to tell you deepest and innermost thoughts. avoided, as it becomes increasingly dicult for people to attain sucient time to make the group process work as eectively as it does with smaller groups. Groups with greater than 12 participants should usually be
Addiction THERE IS
WAY OUT.
LET US HELP PLEASE CALL 706-768-6695
WWW.GAPSGA.COM
4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 200, SUITE 100 WOODSTOCK, GA 30189
Are you missing 18%* of your Patients’ Positive Opioid Test Results? You may be without High Sensitivity Definitive Testing.
SAMHSA PUBLISHES BEST PRACTICES ON MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER Best Practices
Treatment Improvement Protocol 63, “Medications for Opioid Use Disorder,”
reviews the use of methadone, naltrexone, and
buprenorphine, the three FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorders.
Data indicate that OUD-treating medications are both cost effective and cost beneficial
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has published new guidance to help health care professionals better understand medications that can be used to treat Americans with opioid use disorder (OUD). Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63, “Medications for Opioid Use Disorder,” reviews the use of methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine, the three FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorders. TIP 63 provides guidance for health care professionals and addiction treatment providers on how to appropriately prescribe these medications and effectively support patients using these medications for OUD treatment. “We know that people can and do recover from opioid use disorders when they receive appropriate treatment, and medication-assisted treatment’s success in treating opioid use disorders is well documented,” said Dr. Elinore F. McCance-Katz, assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. “TIP 63 emphasizes that increasing access to medications to treat opioid use disorder will help more people recover, enabling them to improve their health, living full and productive lives.” TIP 63 is part of SAMHSA’s larger response to the opioid crisis. More access to treatment with OUD medications is critical to closing the gap between treatment need and treatment availability and an important public health strategy. Data indicate that OUD-treating medications are both cost effective and cost beneficial.
Let us help you fight your Addiction
CALL TODAY (706)768-6695 www.gapsga.com
GEORGIA APPALACHIAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC. 4595 Towne Lake Parkway Building 300, Suite 100 • Woodstock, GA 30189
BURNING YOUR LIFE AWAY .
GET HELP TODAY! (706)768-6695 4595 Towne Lake Parkway Building 300, Suite 100 Woodstock, GA 30189 www.gapsga.com
At GAPS, we believe people have value and their concerns are real.
GAPS helps people with physical, emotional and mental health issues improve their sense of well-being, alleviate feelings of distress and resolve crises.
4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 300, SUITE 100 • Woodstock, ga 30189 | 706.768.6695
Dead people don’t get into recovery
D. Waters Is Suboxone a Reasonable Treatment Option for Opioid Addicts? After twenty years of providing substance abuse treatment I can tell you that the ultimate goal of anyone battling an addiction is total abstinence. Every addict and alcoholic eventually figures out they can not control their usage, and moderation is unrealistic. Learning to live life on life’s terms is part of the process of learning to live abstinent. Self-help programs like Alcoholics Anonymous(AA) and Narcotics Anonymous(NA) do a great job of helping people understand their addiction, themselves, and effective solutions for coping with their disease. Dead people don’t get into recovery Opioid addicts are not terribly different from any other addict or alcoholic, except the risk of death by accidental overdose is huge. People are dying in droves from opioid overdose. The current heroin epidemic is even more dangerous than the pain killer epidemic it replaced. Relapse rates are tremendous. Unfortunately, it may take years before an individual addict is ready to give the 12-Step AA/NA
I’ve truly never seen anything work better, and when it works it’s a beautiful thing.
process the thorough try it requires to be effective. Therefore, Suboxone is a terrific option for chronic relapsers. You can’t generally get high from it, unless you haven’t used in awhile, or never used in the first place. You can’t overdose on it from use or abuse, and any other opioid you take while it’s in your system will be nullified and wasted.
Not the solution, but maybe a good step forward Suboxone is not the solution, but in many cases it’s better than nothing, and a good response for chronic relapsers who are risking death from overdose. At least the addict is getting some exposure to treatment which is more likely to lead to recovery in the long run. Suboxone buys people time and keeps them alive. There are quite a few people who’s funerals I’ve attended that I wish had gotten on Suboxone. You can’t treat the dead.
The Subs knock down the monster cravings almost completely, and people don’t go through the nasty withdrawal that’s so painful. Once dysfunctional people who couldn’t hold a job, or were constantly on the obsessive hunt for the next fix suddenly become much more functional, and the addiction looks like it’s in remission. They can work consistently, they stop chasing the drugs, they have more money and can care for themselves and their families, and their addiction doesn’t seem to be ruling their lives. It seems like magic! Very few people actually wean off Suboxone successfully Suboxone users often wrongly think they’re cured because they look and feel more functional. Then they think all they have to do now is wean down, or taper off the medication, which is what the clinic doctors help them manage over a number of months to years. The problem is they’ve done nothing about the underlying addiction and all the addictive thinking and coping that go along with it that drive the addiction from within. They haven’t developed any social support, or learned anything about themselves and their disease. We like to say that using, or putting some chemical into the body, is only a symptom of the underlying disease. Abusing substances is not the actual disease—just a symptom. As soon as they stop using the Subs the addiction is still there and ready to start expressing itself all over again through the many painful ways it does. Chemically addicted people cope with life stressors with chemicals—that is, unless they make some fairly significant changes. Suboxone changes nothing in the end. Suboxone changes nothing A combination of Suboxone treatment coupled with AA/NA (with Sponsor and Step work) is a great thing. At Crossroads Counseling we require anyone with a substance abuse issue
to attend AA/NA, obtain a Sponsor, and work the 12-steps. If they don’t we won’t sign-off on their program. Most Suboxone clinics require their participants to attend at least one counseling meeting a month. Unfortunately, this is almost completely useless unless the individual engages in a personal program of recovery that addresses not only the biological issues, but the social, psychological, and spiritual issues related to the disease, as well.
WWW.GAPSGA.COM VISIT OUR WEBSITE!
GAPS focuses on how people function both
personally and in their relationships at all ages.
4595 Towne Lake Parkway Building 300, Suite 100 • Woodstock, GA 30189 | 706.768.6695
We offer counseling to address the emotional, social, work, school and physical health concerns people may have at different stages in their lives, focusing on typical life stresses and more severe issues with which people may struggle as individuals and as a part of families, groups and organizations.
Call Us (706)768-6695
4595 Towne Lake Parkway Building 300, Suite 100 • Woodstock, GA 30189 | www.gapsga.com
“We were surprised that morphine was able to induce these really long-lasting changes,” says Dr. Peter Grace, the study’s lead author. Dr. Grace says the cause of the chronic pain increase has to do with cells that form part of the immune system. He says if those areas could be isolated or their eects reduced, the resulting pain may not be as great. “If it does turn out to be a relevant issue to patients, then what our study suggests is that targeting the immune system may be the key to avoiding these kinds of eects,” Dr. Grace says. “Opioids could essentially work better if we could shut down the immune system in the spinal cord.” e team’s research only looked at spinal cord injuries and morphine, and did not study other opioids that are commonly prescribed to patients experiencing pain. But he said it’s likely drugs like Vicodin or OxyContin could aect other parts of the body in a similar way. “While we haven't actually tested other opioids in this particular paradigm, we predict that we would see similar eects,” Dr. Grace says.
ain relievers are supposed to relieve pain. It sounds simple enough, but new research suggests a common pain medication may actually be prolonging chronic pain. Morphine is an opioid painkiller commonly prescribed in hospitals and clinics, and while it is eective in the short term, doctors don’t always consider the potential consequences for pain down the road.at’s why a team of researchers based out of the University of Colorado - Boulder set out to study how morphine treatment aects chronic pain, and found some troubling results. e team, which used mice with spinal cord injuries, found that in mice not given morphine, their pain thresholds went back to normal about four to ve weeks after the injury. But mice who were given morphine didn’t see their pain levels return to normal until around 10 to 11 weeks, meaning the use of morphine eectively doubled the length of their chronic pain. P
28
Chronic problem Chronic pain can be debilitating for many people facing serious health problems, and it can also be a key factor in substance abuse. Many people report developing a dependence on opioids after having them prescribed for an injury. But new research suggests the number of people who develop dependency issues because of chronic pain may be far higher than people realize. A study from researchers at Boston University looked at a group of nearly 600 people who had either used illicit substances or misused prescription drugs.
ey found that 87 percent reported suering from chronic
pain, with 50 percent of those people rating their pain as severe.ey also found that 51 percent of people who had used illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin had done so to treat their pain. While many prevention eorts focus on recreational users, the numbers suggest that chronic pain plays just as prominent a role in substance abuse. “Many patients using illicit drugs, misusing prescription drugs and using alcohol reported doing so in order to self-medicate their pain,” the authors of the study wrote. “Pain needs to be addressed when patients are counseled about their substance use.”
Brought toyou by:
Bring your self your FUTURE. You found the humility to ask for help to admit you were powerless over your addiction. That’s the day your life changed the day you became free to redesign yourself to rebuild to life.
CONTACT US 706.768.6695 4595 Towne Lake Parkway Building 300, Suite 100 Woodstock, GA 30189
WWW.GAPSGA.COM
OPIATE PROGRAM BREAKING THE CYCLE
Why are we non-12-step? We’d like to state at the outset that this does not mean that we are Anti-AA. (See “An Open Letter to Our Friends at AA.”) We believe in anything that works, and we believe that individuals should have a variety of choices from which to choose.
Since 1995, here at Assisted Recovery, we have seen our
approach work even when the 12- step approach had previously failed.
Most people are already familiar with AA’s primarily spiritual program of recovery (turning your will and your life over to a Higher Power). AA offers many social support resources, in the form of self-help group meetings that are available nearly everywhere… plus dances, pot-luck suppers, retreats and conventions where members can meet other sober people. AA also offers some limited psychological tools, mostly in the form of simple slogans such as “One Day at a Time,” which are easy to understand and remember. Finally Evidence- Based Treatment for Opiates that will empower you to quit using and make positive changes in your life. As a recognized leader in the non-12-Step recovery movement, Assisted Recovery’s founder and Director Lloyd Vacovsky was interviewed for the Penn and Teller Show on the Showtime Cable TV network. The episode about AA, entitled “12 Stepping”, which began airing in September 2004. In this episode, Penn and Teller were particularly critical of AA, and of government-mandated attendance to what is essentially a religious program. (Note: Suggested only for mature audiences and those who are not offended by foul language.)
Assisted Recovery is a leader in providing state of the art treatment for opiate dependence. ARCA addresses the biological, psychological and social components of the recovery process. This program fully integrates medications with psychosocial support. This type of integrated program is an example of the Pennsylvania Model of Recovery. The model is so named in recognition of the work of the University of Pennsylvania and in particular Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD (author of Recovery Options) Assisted Recovery is a fully licensed behavioral health agency, Arizona BH 2620. We recognize that most individuals whom become dependent upon drugs and or alcohol have core psychological issues which they self-medicate for. Stopping drug use does not stop the cravings and the thought processes that lead an individual to relapse. ARCA provides effective individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy. Treatment is provided in an Out Patient professional setting. With Suboxone®, we can safely and effectively detox an individual from opiate dependence comfortably in an Out Patient environment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is provided and is an integral component of the Assisted Recovery Pennsylvania Model program. It fully meets the counseling requirement that is mandated by the Food & Drug Administration for individuals taking Suboxone®. ARCA recognizes the anxiety and depression associated with detoxing from opiates. Further that benzodiazapine’s are not an appropriate response. ARCA utilizes ondansetron as a safe and effective alternative to a benzodiazapine. As soon as a client is detoxed, ARCA strongly reccomends the use of Vivitrol(r) which is injectible naltrexone. Vivitrol(r) blocks the ability to use any type of opiate for 30 days. Vivitrol(r) is an escential tool that clearly is often the differance between success and failure. ARCA works closely with Vivitrol’s manufacturer Alkermes Pharmaceuticals to facilitate the delivery of Vivitrol(r) to the client. Vivitrol(r) provides the assurance that an individual cannot use an opiate for 30 days. The Assisted Recovery Program fully integrates medications with psychosocial support. This type of integrated program is an example of the Pennsylvania Model of Recovery. The model is so named in recognition of the work of the University of Pennsylvania and in particular Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD (author of Recovery Options) The Psychological component is addressed primarily with the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as developed by Dr. Albert Ellis, PhD of the Albert Ellis Institute of New York City. Suboxone® protocols offer opiate dependent individuals a safe, effective and reasonable path to abstinance and recovery.
Since 1995, here at Assisted Recovery, we have seen our approach work even when the 12-step approach had previously failed
COME GET HELP! 4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 200, SUITE 100 WOODSTOCK, GA 30189 706.768.6695
No matter where it hurts, we can handle it. Our physicians are ready to help you get back into the swing of things.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US GEORGIA APPALACHIAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC.
OUR SERVICES
• DEPRESSION/ANXIETY/STRESS • CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND TRAUMA • FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP ISSUES • LONELINESS • GRIEF AND LOSS
• GAY AND LESBIAN CONCERNS • PARENTING • DIVORCE • EATING DISORDERS • ADDICTION RECOVERY
Georgia Appalachian Professional Services, Inc. (706)768-6695 www.gapsga.com
4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 300, SUITE 100 WOODSTOCK, GA 30189
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that overdoses from prescription opioids drive the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. Opioids are drugs that are extremely powerful and lead to uncontrollable addiction, even in good, honest people. If you’re a resident of Alpharetta, Roswell, John’s Creek, Milton, or located anywhere in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area, who’s ready to be free of your addiction, contact the trusted staff at Detox with Dignity, an affiliate of W.I.S.E. Medical Centers. Call the office to make an appointment, or use the online booking agent.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE Q & A
How do I know if I have an unhealthy addiction? Not all addicts are recreational abusers. You may question your use of the drugs if you’re unable to stop using the drug after the cause of the pain has resolved. If you have a past or a family history of substance abuse, your risk of addiction to opioids is great, even when a doctor prescribes pain medications for a valid condition. Do you use medications to help with withdrawal symptoms while detoxing from opioids? There is no single correct way to detox off of opioids. Sometimes sedatives, anti- nausea, anti-depressants, and blood pressure medications are helpful in different stages of the rehabilitation process. Some patients must taper off the opioids gradually before starting any detox medications. One of the most successful medications for detox is called Suboxone—containing the active ingredient buprenorphine. You start on Suboxone® once withdrawal has begun. Dr. Locke may also recommend naltrexone, sold under the brand name Vivitrol®, after all opioids are out of your system. Vivitrol discourages the resumption of opioid use.
What are the differences between tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction? Tolerance refers to a drug’s becoming less effective over time. Physical dependence describes a situation in which a person develops symptoms and signs of withdrawal, including sweating, nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, and rapid heart rate, when they cease taking the drug or lower the dosage. Addiction is a condition in which a person has lost control over the use of the drug. They continue to use it even when the drug harms themselves and their relationships with others. People who are addicted may obtain pain medications from non-medical sources, alter oral formulations of prescription medications, or snort or inject medications.
What are opioids? Opioids are drugs that affect the body in the same way that opium does. Examples of opioids include:
Oxycodone Hydrocodone
Fetanyl Heroin
They’re often prescribed for chronic pain or to help you recover from surgery. You may know them from their brand names, such as Vicodin®, Percocet®, and OxyContin®. For people with pain, opioids are very effective, and most patients don’t become addicted to them. However, in some people, opioid dependence becomes an unexpected side effect of well-intentioned pain treatment.
We offer a variety of treatment options to meet your needs.
GEORGIA APPALACHIAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC. WE CAN HELP YOU. VISIT US TODAY 4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 300, SUITE 100 WOODSTOCK, GA 30189 www.gapsga.com | 706-768-6695
CALL TODAY FOR HELP! (706)768-6695
4595 TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY BUILDING 300, SUITE 100 • WOODSTOCK, GA 30189 GEORGIA APPALACHIAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker