Addiction Archives | Page 3 of 3

Western Indiana Recovery Services Announces New Director

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes Natasha Newcomb, MSW, LCSW, Acting Director of Western Indiana Recovery Services located at 88 Wabash Court, behind the Vigo County Courthouse, in Terre Haute, IN.

Natasha acquired a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from Indiana State University. She has extensive experience in the mental health field, holding positions which include Case Manager, Social Service Director, and Therapist. Prior to this recent promotion, Natasha worked as a Therapist on Hamilton Center’s Inpatient Unit where she assisted with crisis management, client advocacy, treatment planning, and addictions treatment.

“Working in mental health has been my passion since age 17. I’m excited for this new opportunity and the possibly to serve more consumers on a broader level” said Newcomb.

WIRS is a certified opioid treatment program of Hamilton Center, Inc., a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. The program offers medication assisted treatment (MAT), group and individual therapy, and case management. Indiana Medicaid and self-pay options are available with no referral necessary. Western Indiana Recovery Services is here to help those suffering from opioid use disorder regain something lost to addiction.

For information on Western Indiana Recovery Services, call (833) 232-0215 or (812) 231-8484.

Western Indiana Recovery Services Recognizes September as National Recovery Month

Regain something lost.

Western Indiana Recovery Services (WIRS) and board of directors of Hamilton Center, Inc. want the community to understand there is life to be lived after addiction. WIRS seeks to spread awareness of September as National Recovery Month, now in its 29^th year of national recognition. Its purpose is to highlight the achievements of individuals who have regained their lives through recovery from addiction and/or mental illness.

For some, recovery is regaining the things lost to addiction, like relationships, employment, or self-worth. For others, recovery can be simply learning to recognize and identify the moments that a person needs support, and learning to take the necessary steps to get help. By understanding addiction as a lifelong journey, with ups and downs, it allows individuals involved in the recovery process to keep an open mind to the many different types of treatments. “Recovery is finding the path that’s best for you,” said Jessica Nevill, Clinical Director of WIRS. “There’s no prescription for what will work for any individual; only that they don’t give up,” she said.

Western Indiana Recovery Services, a state licensed opioid treatment program of Hamilton Center, reaffirms to those suffering that recovery is possible by identifying addiction as a physiological and physical illness and promoting individualized treatment. WIRS combines medication assisted treatment (methadone) with individual, group therapy, and case management services to provide comprehensive opioid use disorder treatment. “The opioid crisis is ravaging our community,” said Melvin L. Burks, Hamilton Center’s CEO. “We believe for some, that medication assisted treatment provides the best possibility for long term recovery from opioid use,” he said.

WIRS is a program of Hamilton Center, Inc., a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. Hamilton Center provides services to children, adolescents and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Counseling services are provided for people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and other serious mental illnesses.

For information on Hamilton Center Services call (800) 742-0787.

For information on Western Indiana Recovery Services, call (833) 232-0215 or (812) 231-8484.

Hamilton Center Hosts International Overdose Awareness Day by Releasing 115 Butterflies

Terre Haute – Hamilton Center, Inc. will host an event to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day on Friday, August 31^st at Western Indiana Recovery Services (WIRS) located at 88 Wabash Court, Terre Haute, behind the Courthouse. With the help of community members and those affected by addiction, 115 butterflies will be released in recognition of the 115 people who overdose from opioids every day in our country.

Hamilton Center invites community members, and those affected by addiction, to join us as we recognize the significance of the day and celebrate the start of September as Recovery Month. We hope for your presence in creating an environment where those affected by addiction can come together to recognize they are not alone, and this disease does not discriminate.

The event begins at 5:00 PM; the butterfly release will begin at 5:15 PM.

After the conclusion of the butterfly release there will be refreshments inside and tours of the WIRS Building.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. Services are provided to adolescents and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Counseling services are provided for people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

OTPs, Mental Health, and the Opioid Crisis

By: Jessica Nevill, LMHC, Clinical Director, Western Indiana Recovery Services

Opioid use has been the focus of a great deal of national attention recently, with good reason. According to the National Behavioral Council, Americans consume 80% of the opioid prescriptions given worldwide. On average 44 people die per day in the United States from overdoses on pain killers according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, America is now in an opioid crisis. There is a growing numbers of individuals dying daily from overdose as well as increased criminal activity and increased HIV/AIDS rates.

Opioids have been prescribed in the United States to help individuals who are experiencing pain. These medications are effective at blocking the pain and providing relief. This is done by impacting the “reward pathway” which allows the person using the opioid to experience pleasure and an overall state of well-being. When used repeatedly over large periods of time, however, the person can build a tolerance to the medication which does not allow them to experience the same levels of well-being that they experienced before. This results in individuals taking more and more of the medication to get the same desired results.

So how does this result in an opioid crisis? When individuals need more and more medication to reach desired amounts of relief, they will use medication faster than prescribed. This can result in individuals seeking alternatives ways of getting pain medicine as their bodies have become dependent. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that over half of individuals who abused pain killers received them for free or from a relative. Once these individuals are no longer willing or able to provide this medication individuals often turn to other methods for achieving the same effects such as buying medication illegally or beginning the use of heroin which is also an opioid. Once individuals begin using illegal methods to maintain an opioid dependence they are then at higher risks for HIV and AIDS as well as incarceration, separation from family, and loss of employment.

Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) are working to tackle the opioid crisis. Opioid treatment programs provide individuals with medication such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to help them discontinue the use of illicit substances. Methadone activates the same parts of the brain other opioids do. Buprenorphine activates the same parts of the brain but without the rewarding effects. Naltrexone blocks the part of the brain that opioids activate and removes rewarding effects. Research shows that methadone and buprenorphine, when prescribed by a physician and closely monitored, are the most effective treatment methods for opioid use disorder. Methadone is considered the “gold standard” of treatment especially for pregnant woman who are addicted to opioids. This along with behavioral health services such as individual and group counseling help individuals gain the skills needed to maintain success in their lives. Western Indiana Recovery Services is privileged to bring these services to Vigo County with the integrated approach to recovery to help individuals reach their potential. Through medication assisted treatment and behavioral health services we are working to help individuals able to maintain success within the program and for many, regain life – job, family, school, etc. Recovery is possible and appropriate treatment works.

Western Indiana Recovery Services, Vigo County’s first certified opioid treatment program, is located at 88 Wabash Court, Terre Haute, IN. The Clinic provides comprehensive opioid treatment including medication (methadone) coupled with individual and group therapy and other behavioral health services as needed. The clinic is open now from 6:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. weekends and holidays. Patients can make an appointment by calling (812) 231-8484 or (833) 232-0215. Beginning May 28, walk-ins will be welcome. Patients will be assessed for specific admission criteria to the program. This program is one of several addiction programs of Hamilton Center Inc.

Hamilton Center, Inc. Holds Ribbon Cutting for Western Indiana Recovery Services

Hamilton Center, Inc. held an open house and ribbon cutting to commemorate the grand opening of Western Indiana Recovery Services, an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), in Vigo County, Terre Haute, IN. The new treatment facility is located at 88 Wabash Court in Terre Haute, just behind the Courthouse and is Vigo County’s first opioid treatment program certified by the State of Indiana.

Hamilton Center has been working with the State of Indiana for approximately a year in preparation of opening the new clinic. Community partners as well as the general public toured the new facility and met key staff that were instrumental in the development of the program. Sagamore Medical Recovery Services, LLC, with whom Hamilton Center will be partnering, will provide the medical services and Hamilton Center will provide the behavioral health services in the clinic.

Western Indiana Recovery Services was represented by Melvin L. Burks, CEO, Hamilton Center, Inc., Ahsan Mahmood, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Hamilton Center, Inc., Jennifer Hutchens, PsyD, Acting Chief of Addiction Services, Hamilton Center, Inc., Christian Shaw, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Western Indiana Recovery Services and Scott Burns, Program Director of the clinic.

Western Indiana Recovery Services will combine medication (methadone) assisted treatment coupled with behavioral health services including individual therapy, group therapy and case management services. The clinic is now taking appointments and will be open from 6:00 am – 12:30 pm Monday through Friday and weekends/holidays 7:00 am – 10:00 am.

Features of the approx. 3500 square foot facility include five medication dosing stations, separate drug screening rooms, physical examination room, and rooms for individual and group counseling. Black and white photography of local landmarks adorn the walls compliments of the Vigo County Historical Society and local photographer Wayne Jordan.

“We are so pleased to be opening the first Opioid Treatment Program in Vigo County,” said Hamilton Center CEO Melvin L. Burks. “The opioid epidemic affects not only the person struggling with addiction but affects family, friends, first responders, the healthcare system, the criminal justice system and the entire community, “he said.

“We will work side by side with our partners to serve west central Indiana.”

Sagamore Medical Recovery Services, LLC, was formed in 2016 by Christian Shaw, MD, PhD, and his partners. Dr. Shaw is a leader in the field and has worked to develop the most successful, innovative and respected methadone based opioid treatment program in New Mexico.

To schedule an appointment at Western Indiana Recovery Services, call (833) 232-0215.