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What to Expect in Recovery-Oriented Suboxone Treatment

A Suboxone treatment program offers help for individuals struggling with opioid addiction issues. Suboxone, used as part of a medication-assisted treatment program, offers a variety of benefits for patients.

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, helps make the recovery process more comfortable for people that want to regain control over their life and to successfully complete treatment for their addiction issues.

Many people know about addiction treatment programs and have heard of Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder. There are likely questions that people have about entering a treatment program, including what they should expect when they enter into a Suboxone recovery center program.

What Is Suboxone Treatment?

Thousands of overdoses and deaths related to opioid addiction occur every year throughout the U.S., according to statistics from several sources.

Suboxone treatment is a medication-assisted treatment that helps to make recovery more comfortable for individuals that want to change their lives and learn to live without the devastating effects of opioids. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. It is easily administered and known to have been the subject of many studies. Researchers have looked at Suboxone as an effective means of reducing opioid use. Some other factors related to Suboxone, based on research and study results include:

  • Suboxone reduces opioid use disorder-related symptoms such as drug cravings
  • Suboxone helps to reduce the opioid withdrawal symptoms
  • It is shown to be effective in reducing relapse incidents
  • Studies show that individuals involved in Suboxone treatment programs are less likely to leave treatment
  • It is proved to be more effective than detox alone

Research shows that Suboxone treatment has been shown to be substantially more effective for many patients compared to when patients receive counseling alone, or when they engage only in counseling that is combined with detox.

What to Expect in a Recovery-Oriented Suboxone Treatment Program

The professional staff at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery understands the difficulties associated with trying to stop the use of opioids and fears associated with entering treatment. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. The treatment staff bases your treatment and other services, such as addiction treatment therapies based on your own individual needs.

The benefits include that participants are less likely to use not only opioids but also cocaine and some other types of drugs. It has also proved safer than some other treatments to manage and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Learn how to slowly taper off opioids with the benefits of Suboxone. It is important to note that treatment with Suboxone is not substituting one type of opioid for another type of highly addictive opioid. This may be a belief that circulates in some circles, leaving some people to wonder what they can expect in a Suboxone program. Patients receive treatment in a controlled setting that focuses on their own addiction issues and needs as they learn to take back their life and learn to live an opioid-free lifestyle.

Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery Today to Learn More

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery focuses on getting their patients through detox, medication-assisted treatment, and into long-term recovery. Our highly-qualified treatment team is experienced in facilitating Suboxone treatment for people that are in need of treatment for their addiction to opioids.

The highly effective Suboxone therapy prepares patients for their long-term recovery, getting them ready for a personalized approach to therapy. We offer ongoing support from our professionals, understanding that Suboxone treatment combined with counseling and continued support offers the best chance for recovery.

Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today at 833.448.0127 to learn more about Suboxone treatment, to learn about addiction treatment therapies, and to get started on your journey to recovery.

The Necessity of Peer Recovery to Successful Addiction Recovery

Long term recovery isn’t something we can achieve by ourselves. In fact, major addiction treatment studies have found a causal link between peer accountability and long-term recovery. Yet most people recovering from addiction (especially opioid-addiction), don’t have access to a peer group that can help them stay the course and remain clean through trying times. Literally 90% of addiction treatment clinics, addiction psychiatry and medicine practices fail to provide even a sing peer-support group. Since these programs and providers are driven to treat from more of a public health perspective, where the singular goal is to reduce harm and increase a single quality of life measure, survival! At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer an evidence-based alternative, which empowers each of our patients to truly recover. Not to simply “survive” but to fully thrive!

 

Peer support generates community between those who share the common bond of being in recovery from chemical dependence, which in turn facilitates the development of meaningful, accountable long-term connection.

 

Learn more at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778-2627.

How Suboxone Is Used to Treat Opioid Addiction

When it comes to addiction, there are many things that a person can become addicted to. From drugs or alcohol to gambling or food, the need for help in treating addiction is real. Even when a person doesn’t abuse drugs intentionally to get high, dependence on a drug to control pain, for example, can lead to addiction. Suboxone can be used in addiction treatment programs to help individuals who are struggling with substance abuse find relief from withdrawal symptoms as they work through the underlying causes of addiction.

What Is Opioid Addiction?

After using opioids to control pain, such as after surgery or for an extended period, it is possible to become dependent on them. Eventually, a person can become addicted to the feeling of relief that opioids bring. Others who are seeking to get high turn to opioids and can eventually become addicted as well. Opioids contribute to over half of all deaths caused by drug overdoses in the United States, so the problem is severe and has become an epidemic.

Common opioids include:

How Is It Treated?

Treating opioid addiction involves several factors. Counseling is often used to help the client cope with the emotions surrounding their pain and learn new strategies, but this alone is not enough. Most of the time, mediated opioid addiction treatment is necessary. Using an opioid replacement therapy strategy, professionals help clients overcome their dependence on the drugs by reducing the withdrawal symptoms that often make it impossible to quit in the first place.

The steps a client typically undergoes, which can occur independently of each other or as a combined process, involve:

  1. Detoxification
  2. Therapy
  3. Medicated treatment
  4. Utilizing ongoing coping strategies

To be the most effective, rehabilitation is encouraged for a period of greater than 90 days. This helps reduce the risk of relapse.

Medicated-Assisted Treatment

During the medicated treatment period, clients are given medicine to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. These medications help without the added adverse effects brought on by opioids. Some drugs also help with cravings experienced during detox. This type of treatment cannot occur without consulting a professional, so it is imperative to seek help. Medications such as Suboxone can reduce the duration and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is one medication that can be used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is made up of buprenorphine and naloxone, which work together to decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms and reduce an individual’s dependence on opioids. It can block the effects of opioids and make an individual in recovery less likely to relapse. It can also help manage chronic pain, which is one reason why some individuals abuse opioids. Suboxone treatment is always complemented by therapy and counseling.

How Does Suboxone Help with Opioid Addiction Treatment?

Suboxone lowers the effects of opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It has a lower potential for abuse than methadone, which is another commonly used medication in opioid treatment programs. Some of the most common opioid withdrawal symptoms that Suboxone can help relieve include:

  • Stomach cramping
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Frequent chills
  • Muscle tension
  • Sleep-related issues
  • Disruptive aches and pains
  • Heart palpitations
  • Intense cravings

Suboxone can be incredibly effective in helping those with opioid addictions maintain recovery long-term.

Opioid Addiction Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Getting treatment for opioid addiction is possible at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery. Here, clients can benefit from therapists who vary their treatment approach based on both proven techniques and medical intervention. Understanding the different ways to treat opioid addiction and how medication can help manage withdrawal symptoms means that we can provide a complete recovery to clients. Visit our website or contact us at 833.448.0127 for more information.

Dangers of Percocet

Percocet is a type of opiate drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. The drug contains oxycodone hydrochloride along with acetaminophen, and improper use may lead to dependence and addiction. When this happens, it becomes difficult for a person to stop using on their own. A treatment program can help those who are struggling with Percocet abuse overcome maintain sobriety long-term.

What Makes Percocet Dangerous?

Percocet, or more precisely, the oxycodone within it, causes significant changes in the function of the brain. It is prescribed as a way to change the way the brain feels pain. This can provide a person recovering from injury or surgery to manage pain better. In this way, it can be a helpful, necessary drug.

When used outside of a prescription, Percocet can cause additional changes. This includes changing the brain’s chemistry. Percocet triggers the area of the brain related to pleasure and the reward system. As a result, the brain encourages the use of the drug on a consistent basis, needing to have it present to function properly. This is what causes dependence, a condition that leaves a person until to stop using the drug without professional treatment.

Overdose Risks for Percocet and Oxycodone

Another of the dangers of using Percocet is the risk of overdose. As dependence develops, a person’s body may become used to the drug. This is called tolerance. As tolerance builds, the body needs more of the drug or needs it more frequently to feel the effects. However, too much can lead to toxicity, leading to the brain, heart, and other organs shutting down. This can cause overdose, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical help.

Addiction is a bit different than dependence, though the two often occur at the same time. A person who is addicted recognizes the dangers of continued use. Even so, they continue to use, often compulsively.

Long-term use of Percocet can be dangerous based on the changes and damage it can cause to the body. This includes:

  • Hypotension or hypertension
  • Slowed heartbeat and breathing
  • Seizures
  • Depression
  • Hallucinations

Over time, continued use can cause liver and kidney failure. It can also cause suppression of the immune system. Cognitive function can also be a concern.

Withdrawal from Percocet

A person with a dependence on Percocet is likely to go through withdrawal as they try to stop using it. Withdrawal creates intense cravings, as well as both psychological and physical symptoms. That makes it hard to stop using.

Because of how complex Percocet abuse can be, withdrawal from it can be challenging for many people. While certain medications can ease the detox process, some people may experience cold sweats, upset stomach, depression, anxiety, and agitation during this process. It can also make it hard to concentrate and lead to mood swings, joint pain, and tremors. Much of this can be eliminated through a proper treatment program for Percocet addiction.

How We Can Help with Addiction and Dependence

For those using Percocet or any type of oxycodone, our team can provide exceptional support and guidance through a complete treatment program. This program aims to eliminate addiction and dependence and encourage full-body healing. It is possible to manage pain, if present, in an effective manner without the use of opiates.

Our treatment programs are here to help. This includes:

Those struggling with addiction to oxycodone or Percocet can trust Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery for help. Our team of expert clinicians and trusted providers can provide you with the tools you need to overcome your dependence and reclaim your future. To learn more, call 833.448.0127 or connect with us online today.

What Is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a type of injection provided in an emergency situation to stop an opioid overdose from occurring. It is powerful enough to reverse many life-threatening conditions resulting from using opiates but is never guaranteed to be effective. This drug has other uses, but for those who struggle with opioid addictions, this opioid antagonist is often a life-saving measure applied when an overdose occurs. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, our team of professionals provides support for those in recovery from opioid addiction with medication and counseling.

How Does Naloxone Work?

This medication works very rapidly to reverse the effects of opioids. As such, it is called an opioid antagonist. That means it binds to the opioid receptors in the brain. As it does, it stops the effect the other opioids in a person’s body is having.

For example, those consuming too much heroin or pain medication may have shallow, slowed breathing that limits the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs. When Naloxone is used, it can stop the effect that the drug is having, allow for normal respirations – or improvements – to occur. It may help in situations where a person has shallow or very little breathing or, in some cases, when a person stops breathing.

This drug is given in an injection. A Naloxone injection comes with a specific amount of the drug in a liquid solution. It needs to be injected into a vein or can be injected directly into the muscle. Emergency medical providers and police officers often use these pre-filled auto-injection devices that contain the drug.

A person who is engaging in drug use will be unable to use the injection themselves due to their health state. For those who are considering using it as a way to prevent overdose death while getting high, this is never recommended and rarely is successful.

What to Consider When an Overdose Occurs

If an overdose occurs, a person needs to receive emergency medical help immediately. While Naloxone works to reverse the effects of the opioid in the system, it cannot treat addiction, nor can it help to stop dependence on these drugs. In addition, it may not continue to work especially if the dose of opioids taken continues to increase.

For those with a loved one struggling with opioid addiction, treatment in a professional setting is critical. It may help to save a person’s life to administer this injection. However, because of how powerful these drugs are, that individual may not be able to stop using opioids on his or her own. Professional treatment, using other medications and psychotherapy, can provide the support a person needs.

How to Get Help for Opioid Addiction and Dependence

There are solutions for drug addiction, including for those who have overdosed previously. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer a range of therapies that provide outstanding one-on-one support in a safe environment. For those looking for medication-assisted treatment on an outpatient basis, our team can offer help.

Some of our programs and treatment options include:

For those who are using this drug as a way to prevent death due to increased opioid use, there is help available that can help a person reclaim their life. Our programs fit your schedule and can help you build the tools you need for lasting recovery.

Invest in Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Naloxone may provide a temporary solution for those who are facing an opioid overdose. Yet, it is not a solution to the problem. As an opioid antagonist, it is a powerful tool to help in emergency situations. The best way to avoid an overdose is through preventative treatment. The Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery team can help. Call 833.448.0127 or connect with us online now.

Prosocial Behavior

Prosocial behavior is a crucial element to successful opioid-addiction recovery, but why? Well, on July 1st of this year, a study was published by the Department of Health & Human Services confirming that recovery from opioid addiction demands prosocial behavior. Here, we’ll explain why social interaction and general prosocial behavior so crucial to the recovery process.

Prosocial Behavior And Recovery

Primary to the recovery lifestyle is learning to live in diametric opposition to the addicted life. Since the opioid-addict is chronically insecure, judgmental, and socially isolated, recovery demands self-acceptance, changing antisocial behavior & thinking, & learning to sustain meaningful peer connections.

Group Therapy Benefits

Group therapy offers the perfect environment to learn and practice these prosocial skills by creating a place to both provide education around prosocial behavior and a place to practice and provide peer feedback to evolve prosocial skills. Similarly, peer support settings offer a space to both practice and to “put up a mirror,” learning from the mistakes of those you inherently relate with. This a huge reason why, for example, the pandemic has increased relapse and overdose rates considerably; people are more isolated, and there is a built-in justification to practice antisocial behavior.

Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Opioid addiction is a difficult disease to recover come, but it’s necessary. As opioids continue to kill more & more American’s, CMAR is here to provide the tools and services, including prosocial behavioral development, to empower our patients to achieve and sustain their recovery from opioid-dependence, other addictions, and all co-occurring mental health. We are Colorado’s most comprehensive opioid-recovery program.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call 833.448.0127.

Why Peer-Support Is Necessary In Sustaining Recovery From Opioid-Addiction

Recovery is not something that can be done alone. In fact, every major treatment-outcome study shows a clear link between peer-support & long-term addiction recovery. Opioid dependence is no exception. Yet unfortunately, over 90% of those receiving treatment for opioid-dependence are granted no access to a supportive peer group. 90% of Clinics (Methadone & Suboxone), addiction psychiatry practices, and addiction medicine practices in Colorado fail to provide even a single peer-support group during an addict’s treatment. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer peer support to help you recover from opioid addiction.

Evidence-Based Alternatives

Clinics and “suboxone doctors” prescribe, dispense, and sometimes provide some case management or counseling, but little more. Why? Because these providers are only trying to help, patients achieve one single outcome: survival. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, on the other hand, we designed a more evidence-based alternative, which seeks to empower each patient to not just survive, but thrive. We want our patients to live happy, productive, socially healthy lives. We want them to use the gift of recovery to live, love, laugh, feel, connect, and so on.

Recovery From Opioid Dependence

Though CMAR certainly integrates first-rate addiction medicine, integrated & comprehensive group therapy programs & individual therapy programs, family therapy programs, and case management, CMAR also provides peer-led support groups. This group creates a community for our patients, all of whom share the common bond of being in recovery from opioid dependence. This group helps create lasting connections, peer-support systems, and accountability. Yet another reason why CMAR is Colorado’s most comprehensive, evidence-based opioid program. Learn more at CMAR or call us at 833.448.0127.

Prescriptions Alone Don’t Work: The Need for Complete Medication Assisted Treatment to Effectively Treat Opioid Dependence

According to the NIH, there are “…4 important components of MAT models of care” but in Colorado, over 90% of patients only receive 1 one of them. CMAR was developed to change that, by integrating all 4 components of effective Medication-Assisted Treatment into a single program. So how and why does our groundbreaking treatment approach matter so much? In 2018, research found that in Colorado, nearly every person in the state on “MAT”, only receives 1 of the 4 components of effective MAT. of the services. The causes are many, and the impact is clear: Coloradans on Medication-Assisted Treatment have been woefully and systematically underserved…until CMAR.

The 1st of the 4 main components of MAT, is pharmacological therapy, which is a fancy term referring to the prescription and administration of medications. This includes Buprenorphine (i.e. Suboxone) and Naltrexone (i.e. Vivitrol) based medications. Crucial and central to MAT, it’s the only part that Coloradans routinely have access to. At CMAR, we don’t just assess, diagnose, prescribe, and administer these meds, we carry them too. This creates unprecedented access to the medications that patients need consistently in order to avoid relapse and overdose.

The 2nd component of MAT is “provider & community educational interventions”. This involves engaging members of the community, particularly stakeholders in addiction treatment, on the value and importance of using & having access to MAT. This has the effect of increasing the number of opiate addicts that get onto MAT (therefore reducing overdoses), and it significantly reduces stigma. Although this component does exist in Colorado, it is almost entirely done not by the MAT providers, but rather by public health officials & organizations. As helpful as that is, this keeps the core elements of MAT fractured, and keeps the message of those who provide MAT faceless. People often need a smiling, trustable face to combine with service to fully let their guards down and destigmatize something completely. At CMAR, we integrate these services through our community engagement department.

The 3rd element of MAT is the integration of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. In the context of MAT, this can be in either a residential or outpatient addiction treatment setting. Yet only a few residential facilities in the state provide both, and none of these programs provide continuing support. SUD treatment, at both intensive and standard outpatient levels, is central at CMAR. In fact, we’re Colorado’s only licensed Medication-Assisted Treatment Facility (OMAT) that is even licensed as an outpatient and intensive outpatient addiction treatment provider.

The 4th and final necessary component of MAT is called “psychosocial services”. These services focus on healthy social integration and the resolution of familial issues like marriage and other close relationships. Support within a community of recovering individuals is perhaps the most common form of case management, and one of, if not the most beneficial to many. Many MAT programs do offer these services in the form of case management, but they are unfortunately provided in lieu of, not in concert with, SUD treatment. Except, of course, at CMAR. Here we offer family support services as well as peer-based support groups and case management services.

 

Medication-Assisted Treatment is all about medication assisting actual, evidence-based treatment. It isn’t about merely prescribing medications and offering some case management, but about wrap-around opioid-dependence treatment. At CMAR, it is our mission to ensure that each of our patients receives the benefits of each element of MAT, and in so doing, change their lives for the better.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778-2627

The Current Opioid Crisis: What You Need to Know

The opioid crisis has reached new heights in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 128 people die per day as a result of overdosing on opioids. Opioid addiction treatment centers in Colorado continue to see more patients as addiction rates soar. 

Opioid use disorder (OUD) includes addictions to prescription pain medication, fentanyl, heroin, and similar drugs. This epidemic has resulted in nearly $80 billion annually in treatment costs and criminal justice involvement. What is the opioid crisis? How did it start, and what are the solutions? To learn more about opioid addiction treatment, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery at 833.448.0127 today. 

How Did the Opioid Crisis Begin?

The popularity of opioids began in the 1990s when pharmaceutical companies mass-produced prescriptions for pain relief and muscle relaxation. Although there was concern about the addictive properties of the drugs early on, pharmaceutical companies assured the medical industry and the public that patients would not become addicted to the substances.

Convinced of this, doctors and treatment specialists began prescribing opioids at alarming rates almost from the beginning. As the prescription rates increased, the addiction rates increased. By 2017 almost 50,000 Americans died from an overdose, and nearly 2 million people experienced substance abuse. Many Americans required help from a dual diagnosis treatment program.

Current Opioid Use Statistics

NIDA has currently released opioid use statistics that users and medical professionals should find alarming. These statistics include:

  • Nearly 30 percent of patients who use opioids for pain management misuse them
  • Over 10 percent of users develop an addiction or dependency to opioids
  • Up to 6 percent of users who abuse opioids end up using heroin
  • Nearly 80 percent of people who use heroin also abused their first opioid prescription
  • There was a decline in opioid-related overdoses in 38 states between 2017 and 2018

What are the Solutions to the Crisis?

NIDA and other agencies have declared that opioid use has become a public health crisis in the U.S. due to the number of overdoses, fatalities, and addictions in both men and women. Both government agencies and private entities have taken drastic steps toward alerting the public about the current problem. These steps include:

Improving Addiction Treatment Services

One of the biggest steps to addressing the current crisis is by improving the way treatment centers help clients. Addiction treatment services include evidence-based treatment (EBT), dual diagnosis treatment, and aftercare programs that promote a sustainable recovery without relapse.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Addiction treatment centers in Colorado are including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) into their programs as a supplement to therapy and support. Buprenorphine, suboxone, and naltrexone are among the opioid antagonists that reduce cravings and the effects of withdrawal symptoms during recovery.

Increased Monitoring of the Crisis

Through advanced technology and accountability, agencies are improving the way they monitor the current opioid crisis. We are now getting a better understanding of how and why the drugs are being prescribed and how the public is responding to the accessibility of these drugs. Agencies are also obtaining more accurate figures about the crisis.

Better Practices for Pain Management

The more we understand what causes pain, the more we can come up with holistic alternatives to prescription medication. Support for research on pain and addiction has increased significantly, as researchers explore new options. It is important that we move beyond the crisis by giving patients better solutions to managing their pain. With our chronic pain management program, we give you the tools you need to manage your pain effectively without medication.

Are You Addicted to Opioids? Get Help at CMAR

In spite of the opioid crisis, help is available for addiction. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery offers treatment for opioid addiction at our medication-assisted treatment center in Colorado. To find out more about your treatment options, contact us at 833.448.0127, and speak with a treatment specialist today.

Opioid Epidemic Statistics

The latest opioid epidemic statistics are staggering. Although knowledge and public awareness of the dangers of opioids continue to grow, so does the epidemic. Pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals, developers, advertisers, retailers, and users continue to fuel the epidemic by producing, marketing, and consuming more opioids each day. As a result, getting treatment at an opioid addiction treatment center is vital. 

The opioid plague doesn’t just affect recreational users. A sharp increase in addictions and overdoses has also occurred with patients who take out prescriptions to relieve pain. While there is still much to learn regarding the opioid epidemic, one thing is certain: it does not appear to be going away any time soon. To learn more about opioid addiction treatment, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today. 

Current Opioid Epidemic Statistics

The most recent opioid epidemic statistics come from studies and surveys conducted over the last ten years. Many of these studies are conducted by agencies such as The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), or the National Institute of Health (NIH).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Numerous universities, government agencies, and independent entities have also conducted studies, tracing the growth of the epidemic back to the late 90s. While the information may vary, all the latest data clearly shows that the epidemic has turned into a national crisis.

Some of the most important statistics include:

  • Nearly 130 people die each day from opioid side effects or overdose
  • 30 percent of patients who use opioids for pain abuse them
  • 13 percent of users have some form of opioid use disorder
  • 6 percent of users transition into heroin use or addiction
  • In one year (2016 to 2017) opioid overdoses increased by 30 percent
  • In 2018 alone, nearly 50,000 people died in the U.S. from opioid overdose 

Needless to say, the epidemic has turned into a crisis that demands the attention of the medical community, the pharmaceutical companies, opioid addiction treatment centers, and our highest levels of government.

The Development of the Epidemic: The 1990s to Now

Many question the emergence of opioids and ask how we allowed the epidemic to happen. Others wonder why opioids were allowed to be marketed and sold in the first place.

In the late 1990s pharmaceutical companies began developing opioids as a mainstream product designed to relieve pain (among other conditions). The pharmaceutical companies assured the American public that these new forms of opioids would not be addictive or harmful. Naturally, medical providers and treatment specialists began prescribing opioids.

Consequently, patients began abusing these medications because of the euphoric effect they had on the brain. It wasn’t long before developers started producing recreational versions of the drugs. Opioid overdose rates started to skyrocket and have been climbing ever since.

By 2018, nearly two million Americans suffered from some type of opioid use disorder. Over 500,000 Americans also suffered from heroin addiction. It wasn’t long before addiction treatment centers had to update their programs to accommodate clients who abused these drugs.

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Thankfully, treatment centers in America have responded, providing a wide range of treatments for opioid addiction. Treatment specialists can now diagnose an addiction, any related mental disorders, and the root of the problem, promoting long-term recovery from the addiction.

Treatment may include:

  • Outpatient rehab
  • Aftercare programs
  • Evidence-based treatment
  • Holistic care
  • Individual, group, and family therapy
  • Dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders

With the right treatment, clients are now discovering a new life beyond addiction. More importantly, they are discovering that they do not need opioids to deal with many of their problems. 

Get Help for Opioid Addiction Today

Regardless of the opioid epidemic statistics, you can overcome your addiction to opioids. To learn more about how to get started with your treatment, contact CMAR at 833.448.0127. We can help you get on the road to recovery.

VERIFY INSURANCE

Cortland Mathers-Suter

MSSA
Managing Partner

Cortland Mathers-Suter entered the treatment space after his own battle with addiction. He first worked as a peer mentor, before starting clinical work while completing his Masters of Science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University where he focused on policy and direct practice. Cortland moved to Colorado in 2015 to start his first addiction treatment program, AspenRidge Recovery. Under his tenure, AspenRidge Recovery became a two-location, nationally accredited organization. He has since spent the last two years researching and developing what is now Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR).

According to Cortland, “Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is the most important organization I have had the honor to help build. We’re offering a service that seeks to not only improve the lives of our patients but also evolve how we look at medication-assisted treatment in Colorado entirely. Most individuals receiving medication-assisted care only receive medication and urinalysis. Sure you can call that ‘treatment,’ but you can’t call that ‘recovery.’ Our model is about adding the missing recovery component, and thus affords an opportunity to achieve lasting change for each patient and the industry.”

Cortland and his treatment programs have received numerous honors. These include Colorado Business Magazine’s “GenXYZ” award, the 2020 “Titan 100” award, and his program AspenRidge Recovery was both a finalist for “Best Healthcare Company” and named in the “Company’s to Watch” by Colorado Business Magazine as well. He has been interviewed and quoted by numerous publications for his “addiction expertise”, including News Week, 5280 Magazine, the Denver Post, Elephant Journal, Colorado Biz Mag, and TheRecoverySource.org.

Tyler Whitman

Compliance/HR Administrator

Tyler is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He worked in manufacturing administration for 18 years until he chose to pursue recovery from alcohol addiction, which led him to Chicago, Illinois. Since then, Tyler gained experience in retail, retail pharmacy, and healthcare as a vaccine coordinator for a local Colorado clinic. At the clinic, Tyler discovered that healthcare was the career change he had been looking for. His newfound passion for healthcare, combined with his lived experience with addiction, brought him to Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery as an Office Administrator.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys cooking, hiking, and skiing. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Regis University.

Simmeren Boanvala

BA
Outreach and Admissions Representative

Simmeren comes to CMAR after several years working admissions in inpatient psychiatry and addiction. A first-generation Colorado Native, Simmeren attended CU Boulder, where she earned a BA in psychology. Simmeren is currently completing her CAC III while working toward her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

According to Simmeren, “I joined CMAR because I believe in the quality and importance of the program whole-heartedly. My goal at CMAR is to guide each prospect who calls CMAR to find the best possible pathway to their recovery”. Simmeren currently lives in her hometown with her dog and cat.

Tyler Hale

Tyler Hale

Community Partnership Lead

Tyler Hale began his career in addiction treatment following a decades-long fight with his own substance abuse issues. Since achieving long-term recovery, Tyler has held various positions in direct care, client services, admissions and outreach departments at various addiction treatment organizations. From sober living program director to outreach director to admissions director at a drug and alcohol treatment program, Tyler consistently finds himself in leadership roles within the addiction treatment space.

Tyler is originally from Chicago, IL, where he graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bioethics. Thereafter, Tyler built a successful career in the tech industry, before finding sobriety and a subsequent calling to help others. Tyler joined the team at CMAR because he believes in the efficacy of comprehensive and patient-centered outpatient treatment. In his free time Tyler enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with his newborn son.

Kirstin O’Carroll

MSW
Engagement and Relations Director

Kirstin O’Carroll started her career in addiction and mental health services 23 years ago after graduating with an MSW from The Oho State University. Hired directly from an internship program, she served as a case manager and vocational specialist on a community treatment team in Columbus, OH, working to help severely mentally ill adults remain at home and in a community setting. Within the same organization, she later transitioned to clinical assessment and crisis intervention services with children, adolescents, and adults. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of providing empathetic, high-quality care and the need to “start wherever the patient is” with regard to finding the best treatment & solutions for her patients.

After seven years, Kirstin made a career change to diagnostic sales and worked for several Fortune 500 companies as an acute care sales specialist. She is delighted to return “home” to her passion for helping others and believes her new role as community engagement coordinator for CMAR is the perfect alignment of both her clinical and sales skills. When not promoting CMAR, she can be found reading, running, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Dennis and senior canine son Reggie.

Thomas Mazzarella

LAC
Primary Therapist

Thomas is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in the State of Colorado and a Licensed Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in the State of North Carolina with particular expertise in the treatment of chronic Substance Abuse Addiction and Dependency.

Thomas is dedicated to Individual, Couples, Family, and Group Counseling and Therapy for individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health issues and concerns.

James Jackman

CAS
Primary Therapist

James Jackman is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been practicing addiction treatment in Colorado since 2015. James is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University Denver. James is a traditional CBT therapist specializing in childhood events that lead to adult addictions.

James has received special training in Family Systems, Inner Child, Maladaptive Schemas, and Adverse Childhood Experiences. James has worked in many treatment settings throughout his career and uses a client-centered treatment approach to help one recover from destructive patterns that facilitate addiction. In addition, James enjoys working with rescue animals and advocates for several local rescue organizations outside of work.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Megan Hanekom

LPC, LAC, NCC
Therapist & Clinical Compliance Officer

Megan is a licensed counselor who has worked in various mental health and addiction treatment environments. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing and believes in pulling from various therapeutic approaches to best support each individual. Megan received her bachelor’s in psychology and Spanish from Concordia College. She relocated from North Dakota to Colorado where she earned a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Denver.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Maggie Coyle

MA, LPC
Primary Therapist

Maggie Coyle, MS, MA, LPP, LPCC has worked in the mental health and addictions counseling field for the past six years. She has extensive experience in working in the varying levels of mental health and addictions treatment as well as with diverse populations.

She practices cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as primary intervention methods. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling both from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She has also earned a master’s degree in addictions counseling from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Maggie moved from South Dakota to Colorado in June 2020 and is excited to be a part of the CMAR team.

Michael Damioli

LCSW, CSAT
Clinical Director

Michael Damioli has been passionately working in the fields of addiction treatment and mental health since 2012. He has held a variety of different roles within the addiction recovery space, ranging from peer support to direct clinical practice. Notably, Michael was part of a leadership group that developed a small therapy practice into a nationally branded addiction treatment program, which offers multiple levels of care to recovering professionals. Michael is a strong believer in the family disease model of addiction and has focused much of his clinical work and training on supporting families impacted by addiction. He also specializes in treating individuals suffering from co-occurring chemical and process addictions.

Michael is honored to be leading the clinical care team at CMAR and believes that excellent clinical care begins by simply treating a patient with dignity and respect. Michael is a strong advocate for ethical reform within the addiction treatment field and is excited to promote CMAR as an ethical and thought leader throughout the treatment & recovery industry. Michael earned his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and is independently licensed as a clinical social worker with the state of Colorado. He holds an advanced post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy from the Denver Family Institute as well as an advanced certificate in sexual addiction counseling from the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals.

Dwight-Duncan

Dwight Duncan

Psy.D
Psychologist

Dr. Duncan was born and spent most of his early life in California. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 1987. He is a licensed psychologist as well as a licensed addiction counselor. He has had extensive training and experience throughout his professional career in medical psychology, mindfulness, integrated behavioral healthcare, and substance abuse.

Dr. Duncan is married and has one daughter, a neurologic physical therapist in Los Angeles.

Susan-Miget

Susan Miget

NP
Medical Provider

Susan has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She was an ICU nurse for nine years, then returned to school and completed her master of nursing and family nurse practitioner degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2007. She practiced pain management for many years before developing her current passion for addiction treatment.

Susan has transitioned her practice to focus entirely on addiction treatment. She has worked in residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. Susan most enjoys working with patients one-on-one in a private office to protect their confidentiality and ensure top-rate care. Knowing that addiction can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any time, Susan continues to strive to make treatment more accessible and confidential.

Whitney-Grant

Whitney Grant

MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, RN, CPN
Medical Provider

Whitney Grant is an experienced family nurse practitioner with experience and expertise in medication-assisted treatment. Whitney earned her BSN at the University of Miami before moving on to achieve a master of science in nursing degree there as well, becoming a nurse practitioner immediately thereafter.

Whitney has since achieved board certification from the ANCC as a family nurse practitioner. After spending her entire formative and educational years in South Florida, Whitney moved to Denver in 2018 to pursue a career as a provider in family practice, sub-specializing in addictions medicine. Whitney has worked under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Moore, CMAR’s medical director, since moving to Denver.

Nathaniel Moore

MD
Medical Director

Dr. Nathan Moore is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Moore attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA for his undergraduate work and then attended Duke University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. in 1995. Dr. Moore then came to Colorado and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Colorado’s Family Medicine Program at Rose Medical Center.

Dr. Moore practices primarily at our Aurora location. He provides comprehensive family medicine services and has a special interest in addiction medicine, treating patients with opioid use disorder as well as alcohol addiction.

Dr. Moore is married with three children. He enjoys mountain biking, running, and golf.