Addicition Recovery for Co-occurring Disorders is more than a sole focus on the addiction, the co-occurring treatment model addresses the underlying factors which contribute to a persons substance use. As a trained specialist in the treatment of Addiction and Psychiatric disorders Dr. Ratush facilitates each patient's recovery by customizing the interventions specific to each patient. Dr. Ratush is more then a prescriber of medications and therapist. He is every patient's consiglieri, the central private and confidential consultant for Recovery. As such, he collaboratively with his patients devises treatment plans which utilize the interventions of complimentary modalities and other skilled practitioners ensuring synergy amongst proven evidence based approaches.
Addiction has many dimensions and disrupts many aspects of a person's life. Drug abuse and addiction lead to long-term changes in the brain's chemistry and anatomy. The changes in the brain cause those suffering to not only to lose the ability to control their drug use, but their addiction also affects all aspects of their lives. Addiction leads to isolation from family and friends and serious issues at work or school. In addition, the compulsive need for drugs can lead to significant financial and legal problems. The stigma of drug addiction needs to be lifted so individuals may receive proper medical treatment, similar to that for other chronic diseases.
Dr. Ratush offers a comprehensively integrative approach to the treatment of opioid addiction, combining medical, psychological, as well as bio-psycho-social interventions. The cornerstone of treatment is outpatient detox and stabilization using Buprenorphine, a medication approved for the treatment of opioid dependence and motivational and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Once stabilized treatment focusses on relapse prevention and re-engagement with a healthy lifestyle.
Buprenorphine is sold as a brand name prescription medication name Suboxone. Taking Suboxone has been shown to dramatically reduce withdrawal symptoms. The medication is different from other opioids so the patient usually feels more "clear headed" when taking it.
The induction phase is the medically monitored startup of Buprenorphine therapy (Suboxone). Buprenorphine for induction therapy is administered when an opioid-addicted individual has abstained from using opioids for 12-24 hours and is in the early stages of opioid withdrawal.
The stabilization phase has begun when a patient has discontinued the use of his or her drug of abuse, no longer has cravings, and is experiencing few or no side effects. The Buprenorphine dose may need to be adjusted during the stabilization phase.
The maintenance phase is reached when the patient is doing well on a steady dose of Buprenorphine. The length of time of the maintenance phase is individualized for each patient and may be indefinite.
Currently the standard treatment plan for Dr. Ratush's RecoverMD strategy calls for a 16 week maintenance phase, during which a patient will participate in a number of 'Choose your path' treatment activities. The length of the medically assisted treatment can be adjusted by the physician to fit the patient's treatment style.
Availability and Convenience
Dr. Ratush is located in the heart of downtown Manhattan. And unlike outpatient treatment centers and other clinicians Dr. Ratush is available both Saturday and Sunday. The reason for this is to give those people who are “functional addicts” and work during the week a real opportunity for treatment and recovery. Now for the first time work is no excuse!!!
Comprehensively Integrative
Dr. Ratush is committed to leaving no stone unturned when it comes to evaluating and treating addiction. His RecoverMD strategy combines group and individual therapy with peer support groups and with medication management. RecoverMD also uses modalities considered alternative to the medical model such as acupuncture, hypnosis, biofeedback, and heart rate variability. Using these modalities in combination allows for a more robust clinical response. RecoverMD understands that many people addicted to opioids have a pre-existing or will develop a pain disorder when getting off opioids. Therefore the assessment of patients medical health is a vital component to designing a personalized treatment protocol.
Knowledge and Experience
Dr. Ratush realizes that 70% of addicted persons have a co-occurring mood or anxiety disorder. This is referred to as Dual Diagnosis or Co-occurring disorders. Dr. Ratush refers to this as Double Trouble because the #1 reason for relapse amongst addicted persons is untreated mood and anxiety disorder. This is a sobering fact because most clinician and facilities that claim to treat opioid dependence do not evaluate or treat the likely underlying psychological illness. This approach does not give persons in treatment the fighting chance they need to break the cycle. Therefore RecoverMD is committed to offer a full psychiatric evaluation and treatment when appropriate to all patients who seek addiction treatment with Dr. Ratush.
Creativity and Dedication
Dr. Ratush is willing to go beyond the conventional approach to opioid treatment. He recognizes that the more interventions addicts use the higher degree of success in their treatment. The benefits of suboxone alone can be more then doubled when combined with additional interventions. Thats why in addition to integrating complimentary treatments with the current standard, Dr. Ratush also rewards those patients that demonstrate their dedication to their own sobriety by offering financial incentives to utilize more treatment. The goal is to recognize the benefits of therapy and other treatment modalities and ultimately taper off the suboxone medication.