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ARISE RECOVERY & MAGAZINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

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TRACKERS

PROBLEM Elderly Substance abuse Booming FOr THE Fighting Brain disease model

Starting YOUNG

A R I S E R E C O V E R Y & B E H A V I O R A L H E A L T H

CONTENTS

ABOUT ARISE

Our Programs 08 Partial Hospitalization Program 12 Intensive Outpatient Program 13 Ewell Hardman 14 Fighting For the Brain Disease Model 16 Sober Living 18 Martha Murry 20

LARRY JENKINS

ARISE RECOVERY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WWW.ARISERBH.ORG

A R I S E R B H . O R G

Medication Assisted Treatment 28

DR. JEREMYWILLIS

Recovery Monitoring 29 Starting Young 32 Patrice Alexander 34 Relapse Trackers 36 Jacqueline Rushin 40 Tom Conroy 44

ADOLESCENT INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM

OUTPATIENT SERVICES

A R I S E R E C O V E R Y & B E H A V I O R A L H E A L T H

ariserbh.org

ARISE

116 Peachtree Court, Suite A, Peachtree City, GA 30269

CALL

678.679.7418

ABOUT R I

S E

A t Arise Recovery & Behavioral Health, we provide quality, comprehensive substance abuse treatment and mental health services, utilizing evidence-based practices. Our clinical team brings decades of experience working in the addiction treatment and the mental health fields. We provide a full spectrum of addiction services, ranging from telehealth to outpatient services to round-the-clock sober living. In addition to our partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP), we also provide individual outpatient (OP) counseling, family programming, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a sober living program including independent living, long-term recovery monitoring, and telehealth services. The therapeutic modalities that we use to address addiction and co-occurring disorders include: • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) • Trauma-Informed Treatment • 12-Step Dual Recovery • The Matrix Model

• Experiential Activities • Family Systems Work • Psychiatric Services, including medication management

Our

PROGRAMS

A rise Recovery & Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive continuum of care to meet the clinical

needs of adults and adolescents with substance use and mood disorders.

CONTACT 678.679.7418

116 Peachtree Ct, Suite A Peachtree City, GA 30269 ariserbh.org

O ur continuum of care includes: • Partial Hospitalization Program • Intensive Outpatient Program • Outpatient Services • Family Program

• Medicated Assisted Treatment • Independent Living Program • Recovery Monitoring

LARRY JENKINS ENKINS A certified counselor for over 20 years, Larry founded Arise Recovery Residences as a Sober Living facility in 2017. Prior to Arise Recovery Residences, Larry worked as a Program Director for MARR Addiction Treatment Center’s MARR South residential treatment program. He also co-founded and directed another sober living program called Soul Changers in Hampton, GA. Larry’s clinical certifications, training, experience as a clinician and facility administrator have all been built around the central mission of his life: to help people find the joy of lasting recovery. This mission is deeply personal for him. Larry started his own personal recovery journey when he checked into treatment at a residential facility in 1991. At that time in his life, when he was deep inside the isolation and pain that characterizes addiction, he claims he was the “last person you would pick to eventually be starting and running a treatment facility.” In treatment, he experienced the healing power of living in a healthy recovery community. That experience changed his life forever. Following his treatment, he found that he was most fulfilled and connected in his recovery when he was working to pass on the joy he was experiencing. What started out as service work in treatment centers, turned into his lifelong calling and vocation. The focus of his work ever since has been to provide a safe environment for people to experience the healing power of living in a healthy recovery community–an experience he first felt in 1991 as a client. By first providing this foundational environment of emotional honesty and self- acceptance, then the program structure and clinical insight of the Arise Recovery & Behavioral Health staff provide the necessary framework for clients to rebuild their lives around living in a healthy community with others. CERTIFIED COUNSELOR

A R I S E R B H . O R G

FOUNDER & CEO

“We want each person to understand that they are safe to be exactly where they are when they come here.”

Partial Hospitalization Program

A full day program (6 hours), 5 days per week, for clients with significant impairment in their daily functioning due to severe substance use and/or a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Clients participate in psycho-educational and process groups designed to increase self-awareness, understand their thoughts and behaviors, improve communication skills, and develop the emotional management tools to prevent relapse. Clients will receive weekly psychiatric services, as well as weekly individual and family therapy for stabilization and to develop skills to restore and improve relationships. Clients also engage in mindfulness and experiential activities centered around increasing their spirituality for a mind-body-spirit holistic connection.

116 PEACHTREE COURT, SUITE A PEACHTREE CITY, GA 30269 678.679.7418

A half day program (3 hours), 3 days per week, for clients in need of additional support in a structured outpatient setting. Clients participate in group counseling aimed to promote skill development, allow opportunities to process internal struggles, and to reduce isolation by connecting with others and receiving support from group members and therapists. Clients are encouraged to continue practicing healthy recovery habits learned in a more intensive setting, such as PHP or inpatient hospitalization. The IOP level of care is also ideal for preventing relapse or full hospitalization for individuals who have been working with an outpatient therapist or psychiatrist. Clients participating in IOP receive psychiatric services, individual therapy, and family therapy in addition to group therapy. Intensive Outpatient Program

“I am committed to walking alongside people wounded by the disease of

addiction.”

E well Hardman brings over 30 years of addiction treatment and counseling experience to his leadership role at Arise. Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide variety of populations struggling with addiction, from people serving time in prison to practicing physicians to pastors needing to address their alcoholism or addiction. Ewell started his career as a Methodist pastor in a rural area in Georgia. He discovered an extension of his calling after finding that other pastors and church members would send people struggling with addictions to him for pastoral care. As a result, he decided to become a certified master addiction counselor. Ewell served as the clinical director at MARR Addiction Treatment Centers where he also helped them start their Recovering Professionals’ Program. He continues to collaborate with and provide monitoring services for the Georgia Physicians Health Program and the National Incarceration Association. Ewell’s calm, therapeutic approach combined with his profound clinical understanding of the addictive process allows him to be a uniquely effective addiction therapist and educator. When reflecting on the work he has done throughout his career, Ewell sees it as one unbroken thread: “Pastor to addicts, teacher, and healer–that’s my whole life right there. It all fits together, and it is all one line in my mind. Anyone is welcome to come along for the journey.” EWELL HARDMAN CO-FOUNDER & SPIRITUAL LIFE DIRECTOR

“The concept of addiction as a disease of the brain challenges deeply ingrained values about self-determination and personal responsibility.” – Dr. Nora Volkow, Dr. George Koob, Dr. AThomas McLellan

INSERT 3 Fighting for the Brain Disease Model Model can complicate messaging in treatment plans

Fighting public opinion can be an uphill battle, sometimes even a futile one. Despite years of progress and scientific advancements, researchers and treatment providers still find themselves having to convince the general public that substance use disorder is a disease. But it’s a message that can often complicate treatment plans as much as it seeks to inform.

Setting the Record Straight Earlier this year, three of the nation’s leading drug experts wrote a paper seeking to explain, once and for all, how substance use affects the brain in the same way as similar diseases. In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, NIAAA Director Dr. George Koob, and Treatment Research Institute founder Dr. AThomas McLellan say they hope to reaffirm the brain disease model while simultaneously addressing common misconceptions about addiction. “The concept of addiction as a disease of the brain challenges deeply ingrained values about self-determination and personal responsibility that frame drug use as a voluntary, hedonistic act,” the authors write. The authors argue that public skepticism about the brain disease model comes from researchers’ inability to articulately describe the relationship between changes in neurobiology and the behaviors associated with addiction. Although countless scientific studies have proven the brain disease model to be accurate and effective, the authors admit more work may be needed to change public perception. “A more comprehensive understanding of the brain disease model of addiction may help to moderate some of the moral judgment attached to addictive behaviors and foster more scientific and public health–oriented approaches to prevention and treatment,” the authors write.

“You have to emphasize the responsibility on the part of the person, but you also have to explain why the behaviors are happening.” – Bob Rohret, MARRCH executive director

 Scientific studies attest that a person’s brain chemistry can be altered as a result of addiction.This fact can provide a needed explanation as to why continued use can still be a problem for people who clearly desire to get clean. “When you start to apply an explanation of why certain behaviors occur,” Rohret says, “it provides people some comfort in understanding why they’re doing what they’re doing.” Mixed Messages But as confident as many in the medical community are about the nature of substance abuse disorder, the idea that addiction is a disease presents something of a double-edged sword for treatment providers. “The messaging has to be sort of finessed,” says Bob Rohret, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH). “You have to emphasize the responsibility on the part of the person, but you also have to explain why the behaviors are happening.” Rohret says treatment providers have to inform those in recovery about the nature of their disease, while also making sure knowledge of that disease doesn’t become a crutch or an excuse for inaction. When presented correctly, Rohret says patients should understand their addiction and responsibility toward it in much the same way someone with heart disease may understand their affliction. Although they cannot change the biological makeup of their body immediately, they can make behavioral changes and take actionable steps that lead to more positive outcomes.

SOBER T he average stay in our sober

In Phase 2, clients have more autonomy to allow for a more flexible work schedule, but they continue to live at the recovery residence, and keep a routine that includes individual counseling and groups at Arise. As their physical and emotional states continue to fluctuate, long- standing dysfunctional habits that were developed during active addiction still need to be examined and replaced with healthy recovery-focused routines. During this period, drugs and alcohol continue to leave the system, and physical and mental health begin to improve. At this time, clients often begin to experience better sleep routines, improvements in liver function and digestion, and increased energy and stamina. Arise Independent Living offers safe, supportive, and structured living conditions appropriate for people who have successfully completed Phases 1 and 2 of sober living at Arise or successfully completed treatment at another facility. Recovery from a substance use disorder is an ongoing process, and people in early recovery often need to find a safe and sober place to live after treatment that allows them to transition from a residential treatment program to life back in the outside world.

living program is 6 to 9 months. During that time, our clients are engaging in recovery and participating in daily community groups, individual counseling, and working while living in the recovery residence. Our goal is to support clients as they re-enter the workforce and larger society to help them gradually become financially and emotionally self-supporting. We have found 90 days to be the recommended minimum length of stay for any client with substance abuse issues seeking long-term recovery. All of our sober living clients initially enroll in our Phase 1 program. At the end of that phase, our treatment team assesses each client’s unique progress, needs, and mental health to determine the recommended course of treatment on a case-by-case basis. Our most highly structured phase of sober living occurs in the first 90 days when clients are most susceptible to relapse and need the most support. This is a critical and challenging period. A vulnerable, newly recovering addict is tasked with rebuilding life from the ground up—including facing previously ignored responsibilities, emotions, and fears. Being in a safe, supportive, well- organized living environment can often serve as the key element for long-term recovery.

LIVING WWW.ARISERBH.ORG 116 PEACHTREE COURT, SUITE A PEACHTREE CITY, GA 30269 678.679.7418

Martha

M E D I C A L

D I R E C T O R

ARISE RECOVERY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH W W W . A R I S E R B H . O R G

M artha Murry, M.D is a licensed adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist and is currently serving as our Medical Director. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She earned both her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science at the University of Memphis. She completed her medical degree at Drexel University in Philadelphia, as well as her residencies in adult and child psychiatry. Dr. Murry has over 12 years of experience as a private outpatient psychiatrist, treating adults, adolescents and children for a wide variety of disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, ADD / ADHD, trauma issues, and bipolar disorder. Her goal is to always empathically engage with patients to evaluate, diagnose and treat, using her training and experience to support patients to achieve their fullest potential. She believes in working with a

Murry MD

multidisciplinary team and treating clients from a holistic approach to promote lasting change.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, and being outdoors.

MARTHA MURRY

MEDICAL

DIRECTOR

21 2

Still Effective After All These Years After 80 years, AA still works

For those seeking to break free from addiction to drugs and alcohol, one of the most widely used -- and easily accessible -- tools has been the Twelve Steps, first published in 1939 in the book,”Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism.” Not much has changed since 1939, in what the Twelve Steps require of individuals, in order to regain control of their lives.The process, known to its adherents as “working the steps,” involves taking individual responsibility for one’s actions, admitting that one is powerless to control the addiction, and seeking the help of a higher power in order to heal. The benefits of the Twelve Step method are widely known: acceptance into a fellowship of non-users who regularly attend meetings to discuss their addictions, face their actions, and atone for them through spiritual practice and forgiveness. Although Alcoholics Anonymous and its many offshoots do not conduct or allow others to conduct research into the effectiveness of the methods, the military has produced studies that show individuals who attend meetings are 60% more likely to achieve sobriety than those who do not.

Millions of men and women around the world have used the Twelve Steps to break free from a wide variety of addictions and compulsions. More than 200 self-help organizations around the world have adopted twelve-step principles for help with compulsion for, and/or addiction to, gambling, crime, food, sex, hoarding, debting and over-working, among others.

Where did the Twelve Steps come from? According to an article published by AA co-founder Bill W. in 1953, there were three primary sources of inspiration: the Oxford Groups, Dr. William D. Silkworth of Towns Hospital and the famed psychologist, William James, widely considered the father of modern psychology. The Oxford Groups, an evangelical movement which became popular in the 1920’s and early 30’s, preached concepts like absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love. “The Twelve Steps could be considered a personal roadmap for achieving sobriety and serenity.”

Combining science and spirituality William James’ major contribution to the philosophical underpinnings of AA was his book “Varieties of Religious Experience.” In his book, James provided scientific validation for the concept of spiritual experiences, which he said could transform people and enable them to overcome personal defeat and find recovery. The Twelve Steps could be considered a personal roadmap for achieving sobriety and serenity and living a life of freedom from addiction to alcohol and drugs. Each of the steps is only one sentence in length, but each one contains enough universally applicable wisdom and power to fill a book. While the 12 steps has provided a path to recovery for countless alcoholics, drug addicts and others seeking to break free from addictive or compulsive behavior, they have also sparked controversy and debate over the decades. The major source of controversy is AA’s longstanding emphasis on a belief in God. AA supporters point out that, in the AA context, that means belief in “a higher power,” a belief in something larger than the self.The phrase was coined in the early years of AA.

They also practiced a type of confession, which they called “sharing,” the making of amends for harms done they called “restitution.”They believed in the value of “quiet time,” a form of meditation and seeking of God’s guidance, practiced in both group and individual settings. Dr. Silkworth spent years helping alcoholics dry out at Towns Hospital in New York City. One of his core beliefs, which he often spoke on, was the disease concept of alcoholism -- defined as an obsession of the mind combined with an allergy of the body.

“’Higher power’ doesn’t necessarily mean a deity, and those who use the steps are free to interpret that phrase as they see fit.”

“Higher power” doesn’t necessarily have to mean a deity, and that those who use the steps are free to interpret that phrase as they see fit, based on their personal beliefs.The phrase could be applied to mean the power of the group, or nature. Some AA members around the world who don’t accept faith in a god as a necessary tenet have formed their own agnostic AA groups. More than 90 unofficial, self-described “agnostic AA” groups now meet regularly in the U.S., according to Patheos.com. The debate continues. Some think the 82-year old organization has drifted away from its core principles and become too lenient, Lee Ann Kaskutas, senior scientist at the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, Calif., told CharismaNews.com. “Others think it’s too strict, so they want to change AA and make it get with the times.” Newcomers to AA are often advised to “take what you need and leave the rest,” Kaskutas points out.That flexibility allows participants to put together a recovery program that fits their needs. It’s one of the reason AA still works for people, eight decades after its founding. 15

Dr. Jeremy When It Comes to Our Health, Knowledge is A s a species we humans have had

a pretty tough run the last two years. We’ve been beaten, battered and bewildered by a global pandemic that’s proven both too fast to catch and/or too slippery to hold; seemingly one step ahead while we’re constantly two steps behind. In our desperate search for blessed relief we’ve generally uncovered more questions than answers and more problems than solutions. Reliable leadership has been lacking, and definitive direction in short supply. But we do have some real answers, we do have some solid solutions, and we do have some reliable leadership. Dr. Jeremy Willis, founder and CEO of Priority Toxicology Laboratories, is one of our dedicated medical professionals who has devoted his life and career to leading the fight in eliminating the uncertainty of our present, ensuring the sustained health of our future, and maintaining his personal commitment to education as a vital key as well as the primary direction to unlocking the promise of our next generation of leaders. Fascinated by the precision of science in general—and chemistry in particular—from an early age, young Dr. Willis applied himself to his earliest studies, going on to receive his PhD in organic chemistry from Tougaloo College before continuing his post-doctoral work at both the University of Florida and Emory University. This commitment to the rigors of scientific academia seamlessly dovetailed into generously sharing his gifts through education and mentoring, moving forward into teaching

in his chosen field of organic chemistry at renowned Moorehouse College. Following a decade of guiding young Moorehouse men and women to their most specific roadmaps of scientific success that began with terminal degrees of their own, Dr. Willis recently shared that his years of enriching and guiding young minds were among the most rewarding of his professional life. But of course his own family commitmentsmultipliedthroughtheyearsand his transition to the private sector eventually became both a professional necessity and a dream which need no longer remain deferred. Following in his father’s own entrepreneurial footsteps (himself head of his own construction company) in 2017 Dr. Willis created Priority Toxicology Labs to capably serve the growing needs of the greater Atlanta community with simple, clear and definitive direction- “Our goal is to help our community become more knowledgeable and ultimately be in control of their health.” And then just two years into his lab’s burgeoning success in that direction, the entire healthcare landscape changed dramatically. Whether we can consider it fortunate given our circumstances, Dr. Willis had nonetheless positioned his lab to be the rock which breaks the crashing waves of an ongoing healthcare catastrophe very few of us imagined possible. Continue on next page>>>

Willis Power

DR. JEREMY WILLIS

“When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.”

Transitioning smoothly from UTIs and DNA sequencing into the sudden and overwhelming necessity for Covid-19 testing, Priority Labs rapidly repositioned its capabilities to handle accurate testing results of up to 2K samples per day, with a reliable 24-hour turnaround time. One invaluable key at the time was the lab’s acquisition and use of ThermoFisher’s vital ORF testing equipment in March of 2020, in line with the CDC’s own simultaneous use of this vital technological resource. Always keeping his beloved grandparents in mind, Dr. Willis further explained his lab’s commitment to professional accuracy with his own unique and very human touch- “When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.” And Dr. Willis remains one of our most approachable and clearheaded healthcare advocates and instructors. When asked to best describe the most current need for community testing, vaccination and healthcare vigilance in the face of Covid’s latest variation, Dr. Willis shared this simple but crystal-clear guidance- “With a typical flu season vaccination, there is an actual small introduction of that virus included in the vaccine. But I want my community to think of the Covid vaccine and its boosters not as this type of introduction. Because it’s more of an ‘email’ to their body’s ‘spam folder’ which merely uses messenger RNA to simply ‘signal’ the body to any actual future introduction of this virus fromoutside. This is the key difference between the Covid vaccination and typical flu season shots.” Further simple, clear and effective direction includes- • Be Proactive, Not Reactive (don’t wait to get sick) • Get Tested • Get Vaccinated/Boosted • Knowledge is Power Although many now reasonably hope we’re seeing the light at the end of our long pandemic tunnel, Dr. Willis sees our future soberly if optimistically. He expects that we may all suffer some degree of ongoing PTSD-like symptoms after our long and stressful healthcare nightmare but that we’ll most likely be able to effectively deal with any and all future Covid variations much more in line with an average flu season run. And with men like Dr. Willis leading the way, we can all feel reassured that our refreshed path will lead us to a much brighter light.

S uboxone taper, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol injections available for withdrawal management for clients enrolled in the PHP or IOP program.

Medication ASSISTED Treatment

116 PEACHTREE COURT, SUITE A PEACHTREE CITY, GA 30269 678.679.7418

MONITORING R ecovery ARISERBH.ORG

A ftercare, individual and group therapy, random drug screens, advocacy and monitoring services

for recovering individuals and professionals.

Adolescent Intensive OUTPATIENT PROGRAM

Our adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed to meet the needs of adolescents 13-18 years of age with a substance use and/or co- occurring mood disorder. Our staff utilizes age-appropriate curriculum that is evidence-based to teach skills and provide emotional support specific to this developmental stage of life. The program aims to address key factors in adolescent development that can contribute to the use of substances and exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as navigating peer relationships, the influence of social media, academic pressures, family conflict, and identity development. Clients will participate in psychotherapy process groups to allow them to open up and express their thoughts and feelings with peers who are having similar struggles, in addition to engaging in mindfulness-based practices and experiential activities to assist with emotion regulation, creative expression, exploration of values to aid adolescents in learning to make healthy choices and decreasing high risk behaviors. The program meets 3 evenings per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4:30pm-7:30pm to allow clients to continue attending school while participating in treatment.

INSERT 2 StartingYoung Insight into adolescent addiction comes as new guidelines urge early prevention

Treatment providers have known for years that adolescents are more susceptible to drug use and consequently, addiction. But now they might know why. Researchers recently discovered a specific pathway in the brain that makes adolescents more prone to problematic substance use, which could lead to stronger prevention efforts. By studying how cocaine affected the behavior of young and adult mice differently, researchers found that a mechanism in the brain which regulates specific protein production also controls addictive behaviors. By manipulating that mechanism, researchers were able to mitigate cocaine’s addictive effects. “Now we have a bidirectional switch that can turn on and off the cocaine-induced changes in the brain,” says lead researcher Dr. Mauro Costa-Mattioli of the Baylor College of Medicine.

“The excitement of this study is that now perhaps we have a signalling pathway that could be targeted for the treatment of addiction.”

- Dr. Mauro Costa-Mattioli, Baylor College of Medicine

One size fits all What’s most exciting about the study is that the pathway does not appear to be specific to cocaine. A second study examining nicotine returned similar results, leading researchers to believe any treatments targeting the pathway would be effective for all substances. “In the case of nicotine, it’s exactly the same thing,” Dr. Costa-Mattioli says. “All the drugs of abuse, they reduce the activity, they hijack or change this mechanism.” Researchers say they’re still interested to see if the mechanism plays a role in the transition from social substance use to more problematic use. But they say simply identifying such a crucial link of the substance use chain could lead to significant prevention methods. “Of course, the excitement of this study is that now perhaps we have a signalling pathway that could be targeted for the treatment of addiction,” Dr. Costa-Mattioli says.

INSERT 2

Total improvement Experts say the benefits of implementing early intervention efforts far outweigh the cost. Although limited data exists, studies show investing just one dollar can produce anywhere from a few dollars to $26 in cost savings down the road. “Thus a well-designed, well- implemented early childhood intervention can dramatically benefit the community and society as well as improve children’s and families’ quality of life,”Dr. Volkow says. But the benefits of early intervention go beyond substance abuse. Experts say many of the risk factors for substance abuse are the same indicators for other social, behavioral and academic problems. They say creating a prevention program to address and reduce the risk of substance abuse will pay big dividends across the board. “Interventions designed to reduce early risk factors show benefits in a wide range of areas,” Dr. Volkow says. “Including improved personal and social functioning, better performance in school, and less involvement with the juvenile justice system or mental health services.”  27

“ Early childhood intervention can dramatically benefit the community and society as well as improve children’s and families’ quality of life.” - Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA director

First eight years To address adolescent drug use, experts say prevention efforts have to start earlier than most would expect.The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the government’s top agency on substance use, recently released new guidelines suggesting prevention education should start in the first eight years of a child’s life. Officials acknowledge that early childhood is not a time period normally associated with drug use. But they say factors with family, school and community environments can shape development of certain emotional and behavioral issues that can manifest in substance abuse problems even decades later. “Central to intervening early is the idea of shifting the balance of risk and protective factors in a way that builds a foundation for optimal social development and resilience,” says NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow.

PATRICE ALEXANDER Clinical Director F or over 20 years, Patrice Alexander has worked as a therapist specializing in addiction while also focusing on treating the underlying mental health concerns that frequently lead to substance abuse, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, codependency, avoidance, and ineffective coping strategies. Patrice’s holistic approach is grounded in her experience in a variety of clinical roles. In previous roles as Clinical Director at both MARR Addiction Treatment Centers and Pyramid Family Behavioral Healthcare, she oversaw all clinical care for the centers and supervised large counseling staffs across a number of residential and outpatient sites. She has also worked as a family counselor, clinical supervisor, individual therapist, and drug and alcohol assessment counselor.

Her therapeutic work over the years has also focused on the intersection of clients and their families, helping them both to understand the disease process and facilitating healing for the entire family system. In showing that a person’s addiction affects everyone in the home and beyond, Patrice has helped families to see that recovery can involve the entire family as well. Recovery works best when the entire family finds healthier ways to communicate, grow, and experience a rich and full life together. She views treating all the components of a client’s emotional and family life as essential pieces in finding long-term recovery.

“A lot of programs want to prioritize treating either addiction or mental health, but the two are often so intertwined it’s impossible to really address one without the other. The same thing with the client and their family: in order to treat one, you have to help support both. At Arise, we look at the whole picture. We want to equip people with all the tools they need to live rich, meaningful lives.” “ -Patrice Alexander LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor, CPCS Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, MAC Master Addiction Counselor

A R I S E R B H . O R G

“There’s a lot of information that can be gained from when somebody relapses.” - Dr. Stephanie Carreiro, University of Massachusetts

Fitness trackers could help prevent relapses

Dr. Carreiro says wearable biosensors can detect a relapse event for some substances (like heroin and cocaine) by sensing a change in heart rate or other physical conditions. The treatment provider can then use the fitness tracker ’s other information, like the time and location of the relapse event, to develop a profile about the conditions that prompt a patient to use. “It gives us very specific contextual information and serves as that reminder to the patient that someone could potentially know right away when they relapse,” Dr. Carreiro says.

Fitness trackers, or wearable biosensors, like Fitbit and Jawbone are the latest fitness trend to gain widespread popularity. But some believe they could be used to treat addiction as well. New research suggests the devices can be used to reliably detect relapses, which could then give treatment providers the information they need to prevent relapses in the future. “There’ s a lot of information that can be gained from when somebody relapses,” says Dr. Stephanie Carreiro, a researcher from the University of Massachusetts.

ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS That accountability to someone who could see the relapse is an important step in moving past simple self-reporting and drug testing. People can lie during self-reports and drug testing will only show that drugs were used, but not information like how much was used, when it was used, and where. Because the sensors can be easily removed, the system will only work for patients who are truly motivat- ed to stay sober. Dr . Carreiro says rather than a big brother scenario with treatment providers tracking a patient’s movements, the devices simply connect a patient to their support network. “We could potentially trigger an interaction with a patient just seeing if they’re okay and need some help,” Dr. Carreiro says.

“It definitely served as a reminder that there was something motivating them to stay sober.”

- Dr. Stephanie Carreiro

SIMPLE REMINDER In a study of 15 patients, nearly everyone kept wearing the devices even when relapsing. D r. Car- reiro says that’s because many people are already used to wearing fitness trackers, and the treatment plan simply fits into the daily routines they’ve al - ready established. Researchers also say just having a physical object on a patient ’s wrist to remind them about their dedication to sobriety can be enough to prevent a relapse. “Multiple people looked at it and thought of going back to jail or being there for their children,” D r. Carreiro says. “It definitely served as a reminder that there was something motivating them to stay sobe r.”

WHAT ABOUT PREVENTION? The ultimate goal is to prevent relapses and keep patients on the path to sobriety. While the tech- nology is advancing quickl y, researchers say the collective knowledge base simply isn ’t there yet to predict a relapse event. But as they conduct more studies and develop better algorithms with the information gained, they should be able to tailor interventions to a specific patient and hopefully keep them from relapsing. “We need to continue to define different pro - files so that we can get a more complete under - standing of what ’ s happening,” D r. Carreiro says. “That’s when it will be the most powerful.”

Outpatient Services

c ounseling and psychiatric services are available to clients on an as needed basis. We offer: Individual Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Aftercare Groups, Psychiatric Evaluations, and Medication Management services upon completion of PHP and/or IOP. These services are also available to clients in

the Sober Living, Independent Living, and Recovery Monitoring Programs.

678.679.7418

E ducational workshops, webinars, and support groups for family members impacted by their loved one’s substance use and mental health conditions. PROGRAM Family ARISERBH.org

With drug problems rising in Georgia , many residents have taken another approach to how they handle treatment, which has been stigmatized across the country, particularly in marginalized communities. Addiction counselor and VP of Strategy and Transformation of Arise Recovery Residences, Jacqueline Rushin, is one such person. Growing up in Montgomery, AL, Rushin graduated with an MBA in Management from Mercer University. Recently, she has received her MS in Addiction Counseling as well. Growing up during the 1960s influenced how she saw the world. “All of my life experiences from growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam war and witnessing neighbors and friends who came back addicted and mentally unstable...to seeing high-functioning abusers in the workplace led me to committing the latter part of my life to helping individuals and families devastated by addiction and lack of mental health,” she said. Besides working with addicts, she also worked with other victims of society, including sex traffic victims. She spent her time volunteering at churches and experiencing addiction first- hand. One reoccurring trend she noticed was the stigmatization of mental illness, which surpassed all cultural barriers. Witnessing this was why she decided to work with many cultures from across the globe, helping them understand that seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of when you need it. Many people are afraid to seek treatment due to being seen as a failure, losing opportunities, or being disowned by their families. Not only that, but many

Addiction Counselor ”I recognized the stigma of mental illness across many cultures and decided that I would always give of myself to help as many people as possible” – Jacqueline Rushin Jacqueline Ru VP Strategy & Transformation

have started at a young age, making quitting difficult. “Research shows that many adult addicts began using at 12 or 13, and by the time they were 14 or 15 years old, they were addicted,” she said. She then added that there is hope regardless of how long someone has been addicted. “I have volunteered my services for over 30 years and had success working with people and groups others thought were a lost cause.” Two years ago, she sought an internship at Arise Recovery Residences. There, she learned how the organization handles addiction, and this was the new place she called home, praising the staff and the recovery model they have. While she has been working for many years, she has no signs of slowing down. When asked about her future plans, she said she would like to open her own facility for rural areas, which she believes are left unnoticed for more urbanized addiction centers. Finally, Rushin believes that while her work is important, it’s the individual who ultimately

ushin "I have a heart for all people"

makes the decision. “I believe in the power of self- healing when (the) self begins to respect itself and see its potential and purpose. That’s powerful,” she said.

– Jacqueline Rushin

“Everythingwe knowabout older adults and substance abuse probably doesn’t apply to Baby Boomers.” - Dr. Alexis Kuerbis, CUNY - Hunter College

overall numbers present a problem. “We’re grossly understaffed in being able to handle these problems,” says Dr. Dan Blazer, a psychiatrist at Duke University who has studied the issue extensive ly. “It’s a problem. I think it’s a problem that’s going to get larger as time goes on and we’re probably already seeing evidence of that.” But there’s also an issue of attitude. Baby Boomers, in general, have a more relaxed view of substance use, and experts fear they may carry those behaviors later into life. “There’s no evidence that they’re going to automati cally stop when they hit 65 years old,” Dr. Blazer says. “They’ve used them all their life, they say, ‘Why shouldn’t I use them now?’”

Even though elderly people show substance abuse issues in a much lower percentage than other age groups, the problem is more prevalent than many realize. And it appears it’s only going to get worse. Studies vary, but generally show between 2.2 and 9 percent of older adults have an alcohol use disor der, and experts say they’re already seeing a rise in marijuana and opioid abuse issues. With the large population of Baby Boomers aging, substance abuse numbers in the elderly population are expected to continue to rise, presenting serious problems for treat ment providers and family members. Researchers say the problem is twofold: part is sheer numbers, the other is attitude. With the number of older adults in the U.S. expected to increase from 40.3 million to 72.1 million between 2010 and 2030,

HIDDEN DANGERS

Experts say the lifestyle of elderly people presents a unique challenge for physicians and treatment providers. For example, because retired people don’t work, substance use doesn’t present a problem at their jobs, a typical red flag for younger people. Experts also say too often doctors fall victim to their own prejudices and don’t ask the right questions that could lead to a diagnosis.

Although success rates in treat ment can be better for older adults, the way they’re treated isn’t necessarily the same. Dr. Sacco says older adults respond better to more collaborative treat ment programs that give them options. “For so long it was trying to fit older adults into these programs, but now it might be chang ing these programs to fit older adults,” Dr. Sacco says.

“People think this person doesn’t look like a substance user,” says Dr. Paul Sacco, an expert on substance abuse in older adults. “Sometimes physical problems associated with alcohol abuse are assumed to have a different cause in older adults.” Substance abuse can be even risk ier for older adults as their bodies become less resistant to the stress es brought on by substance use.

PLANNING AHEAD

To mitigate the expected problems as much as possi ble, experts say we need to train more counselors and physicians on how to best treat older adults, and how to spot potential problems in the first place. “With just a little bit of education about older adults, I think you could make a very big impact,” says Dr. Alexis Kuerbis, a researcher who also works with older adults. “The first step is awareness on what might be

different for an older adult.” But because Baby Boomers use substances more than previous senior groups have, experts say treatment providers may have to find new ways to treat an old problem. “Everything we know about older adults and substance abuse probably doesn’t apply to Baby Boomers,” Dr. Kuerbis says. “All bets are off.”

“We’re grossly understaffed in being able to handle these problems.” - Dr. Dan Blazer, Duke University

“ ARISE WORKED FOR ME .” - TOMCONROY

Residential Manager Tom Conroy

Looking at Tom Conroy, he seems like your average man of 54. However, his life story is of tragedy, rock bottom, and redemption. Conroy lived a life of addiction while in marriage. With his wife, he has three children. When he decided to seek recovery, he had to deal with a series of other life challenges. For example, he had to deal with a divorce. Conroy also battled and overcame cancer. While cancer was challenging, addiction was another beast in of itself. Despite his challenges, Conroy continued seeking his sobriety. Finally, on November 7, 2019, he reached sobriety. With his addiction recovery program, Conroy had nothing but praise. “This program saved my life! It may sound corny, but it’s true,” he said. From Client to Counselor

"I BECAME INVOLVED WHEN I WAS A CLIENT .”

- TOMCONROY

After changing his life, Conroy found a new opportunity: to help others who were dealing with the same issues he did. Currently, he is working as a residential manager and counselor in training. “What I have to offer is my past experience. I can relate to their current situation because I have been in their shoes. I can share with them my experience, strength and hope,” he said. One way Conroy helps his clients is by overseeing the sober living program. For example, he provides transportation for his clients, be it for working, meeting, or performing other tasks. In addition, he facilitates groups for all three phases of the recovery program. “This line of work helps the community by re-introducing good men back into society. Giving them positive life skills to propel them towards a successful life,” he said. Conroy helps his clients as well by allowing them to practice spirituality in everything they do. To him, this brings freedom and is a method to help people who need recovery. “I feel this is important because we can teach our clients much more than staying clean or sober. We can help them find peace and freedom, a new and better way to live,” he said. By helping them live their lives, Conroy hopes to be able to let them live an everyday existence without dependence on drugs. Currently, he is in training to become a Certified Addictions Counselor, which will allow him to treat more clients and work with more people. In addition, he hopes that his experiences can let him to show empathy to a community where many people stigmatize their existence and do not want to show care towards them. In addition, he is still raising his children, a relationship he’s trying to repair due to his past. “I am also working on being the best dad and friend I can be,” he said. He added that his relationship with his three children is improving daily.

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116 PEACHTREE COURT, SUITE A PEACHTREE CITY, GA 30269

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