Women in Recovery: A Spotlight on Kim Patterson
Kim Patterson's story is an inspiring testament to the power of human resilience. Her path through addiction recovery has equipped her with a profound understanding of substance use disorder (SUD) and a fierce dedication to empowering women on their own journeys to healing. From Struggles to Strength Kim's experiences with SUD began at a young ...
Group vs. Individual Therapy: Finding the Right Recovery Fit
In your recovery journey, finding the right support system is crucial. Two pillars of that support system are individual and group therapy, each offering unique benefits and challenges. Choosing between them, or even incorporating both, can be intimidating for someone navigating the path to healing. Understanding the Individual Experience Individual therapy provides a dedicated space ...
The Key Role of Addiction Treatment Services in the Justice System
Despite widespread understanding of the disease model of addiction, substance use is still perceived as a criminal act. Every year, 1.16 million Americans are arrested for the sale, manufacture, or possession of illicit substances. Incarceration is a common punishment for drug-related crimes, with the National Institutes of Health estimating that 65% of the U.S. prison ...
Twelve-Step and Non-Twelve-Step Meetings: Which is Right for You?
Twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are some of the most popular formats of addiction recovery meetings. These programs are based on a broad concept of spirituality and encourage members to work through a series of steps to solidify their recovery. While many people have found long-term recovery through twelve-step programs, ...
Spectrum Experts Make a Case for Medication-Assisted Treatment in Prisons at Recent Corrections Conference
Earlier this month, our Vice President of Clinical Development Dr. Romas Buivydas and State Director of MA Correctional Services Earl Warren teamed up to present to attendees of the American Correctional Association’s winter conference about the importance of adopting medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in America’s prisons. It’s a hotly debated topic across the country and in ...
Looking for a Treatment Center? Make Sure It’s CARF Accredited
Spectrum Health Systems and the New England Recovery Center take great pride in being Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited addiction treatment providers. We work hard to ensure all our services, operations and employees are top-notch and up to standard every single day, because we believe it’s an essential component of good treatment. ...
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) And Why Do Our Prisons Need It?
Last month, our Vice President of Clinical Development, Dr. Romas Buivydas, and State Director for Massachusetts’ Correctional Services, Earl Warren attended the American Correctional Association (ACA) conference in St. Louis, Missouri. While there, they led a workshop designed to educate the audience of non-clinical corrections professionals about Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for addiction and substance use ...
Help, Not Handcuffs: Finding an Ally in Blue
They’re some of the first to arrive at the scene when there is a critical overdose, a person in need, or a troublesome situation. While some find comfort with the men and women on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, it can be a contentious relationship for others. For someone struggling with an addiction, ...
How to Recognize “Sticks and Stones” in Your Home
While many of our blog posts revolve around addiction and recovery, today’s post focuses on another serious problem that takes place in many homes – and that problem is domestic violence. Spectrum Health Systems is well known for its addiction treatment programs, but many don’t realize that we also offer a range of programming that ...
