For Patients
Download the athenaPatient App:
Access your health information and communicate with your care team anywhere, anytime.
Once you’ve downloaded and launched athenaPatient, you must log in using the same email address and password you use to setup your account.
Understanding Addiction
Substance Use Disorder is a medical condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to use drugs, despite harmful consequences. It’s more than just a challenge of willpower – it’s a complex interplay of brain chemistry, environmental factors, and personal history. Understanding substance use disorder is an important step toward effective recovery.
Treating substance use disorder is a multifaceted journey that often requires a combination of counseling and support. It’s not just about stopping drug use – it’s about healing the mind and body, addressing the underlying reasons that led to addiction, and learning healthier life patterns.
Medication-assisted treatment combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies. MAT with Buprenorphine medication, like Suboxone, is especially successful for treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone, is the most effective medication to treat people with addiction to opioids, such as Heroin, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone. Studies report that 90-95% of patients with addiction to opioids are unable to maintain sobriety without medication assistance. Buprenorphine is also an opioid, but so weak acting that patients are unlikely to feel any intoxicating effects during treatment. Even at very high doses, it won’t stop an adult from breathing, which is the primary cause of death from stronger opioids. When taken regularly in stable doses, Buprenorphine prevents withdrawal symptoms and helps reduce cravings, allowing patients to feel normal again.
The path to long-term recovery is unique for each individual, often involving ups and downs. It’s a journey of rediscovering oneself, building resilience, and finding joy in life beyond addiction. Long-term recovery is not just about staying drug-free; it’s about creating a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Behavioral Health Services: Enhancing the Recovery Journey
Long-term individual counseling is a cornerstone of sustained recovery. It provides a safe space to explore deep-seeded issues, fosters personal growth, and promotes emotional healing. This continuous, personalized support helps individuals understand their addiction patterns, develop healthy coping strategies, and build a resilient mindset for long-lasting wellness.
Family therapy, which engages partners and family members in the recovery process, can play a crucial role in patient success. It helps patients learn to maintain healthy interpersonal boundaries, and facilitates healing damaged relationships.
Group therapy offers a unique dynamic where individuals can share experiences, learn from each other, and feel a sense of belonging. It’s a space for mutual support and collective healing, where members inspire and motivate each other, creating a powerful communal path to recovery.
Peer support groups, such as NA, MA, CA, and Smart Recovery offer empathy and understanding from those who have walked a similar path, fostering a sense of community and shared strength. It’s also an opportunity to help others who are struggling, a process that is extremely reinforcing to patients’ resolve to stay sober.
