Overview

• Program Overview
• Admissions Process
• Billing/Payment
• Dual Diagnosis
• Suboxone
• Typical Schedule

Suboxone: A New Treatment for Opioid Addiction

It is our mission at Focus Healthcare to help the opiate addict gain his or her life back. It is our belief that opiate addiction is serious and potentially lethal for individuals. The rate of opioid dependency is dangerously growing among Americans. More and more attention is being given to the fact that not only is addiction to heroin on the rise, but also there is a substantial increase of abuse with the less commonly recognized opioid prescription pain relievers, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and meperidine. Between 1994 and 2001 visits to emergency rooms related to incidents involving opioids have doubled. Dependency may be considered a chronic, relapsing medical condition, causing neuro-chemical and molecular changes in the brain. Even when prescribed for pain and used appropriately, they can cause an increasing detrimental tolerance toward the drug. In addition, the person may experience distressing physical withdrawal symptoms.

A significant breakthrough in the treatment of opioid addiction occurred with the introduction of methadone in the 1960s. Unfortunately there is strong evidence that long-term outpatient methadone treatment deters the drug-addicted individual from building a sincere program of recovery. Consequently, frequent relapse occurs. Within recent years the Federal Drug Administration has approved a particular "less concentrated" opioid for the detoxification of short and long acting opioid dependencies. The brand name is referred to as Suboxone. Suboxone is a prescription medication and is considered a "Schedule III drug." It does have drug abuse potential if not monitored closely under medical supervision.

No matter what the cause of the addiction may be, these individuals are in critical need of help. We offer an inpatient medical detoxification program with the use of Suboxone. Please clearly understand that it is our philosophy and our responsibility to assist the individual to be totally drug free and nondependent on any opioid prior to discharge from our program. We only offer medical detoxification with Suboxone along with an active treatment program based on the Twelve-Step philosophy. This program of recovery requires the individual to participate in individual, group, and family therapies. It is our hope that every individual who undergoes treatment with our staff will develop a sound program of recovery and prevent chemical relapse.