Medical Services
Mental and physical health are deeply intertwined, and our skilled team is acutely aware of how the mind-body connection affects a person’s chances for recovery. Exceptional medical services are a hallmark of our programming, and we offer sophisticated medical care that complements the advanced clinical therapies that our patients receive. Doctors and nurses are an essential part of each patient’s multidisciplinary team, allowing us to target any existing health barriers to permanent recovery.
Our men’s facility was one of the first to be certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and we remain one of only a few organizations in Texas with ASAM level 3.7 accreditation.
Drug and Alcohol Use and the Body
Drug and alcohol use profoundly affects a person’s body, and more often than not, comprehensive medical treatment is necessary for healing. Because different substances impact each person in different ways, effective treatment plans must take each patient’s individual health challenges into account. Our team brings alcohol and drug use and medical history into current focus, and we individually tailor our recommendations based on comprehensive assessments and evaluations. In accordance with our gender-specific philosophy, our medical team also accounts for the unique challenges men face in the recovery process.
Treatment Modalities
Common conditions that we treat alongside addiction include:
- Liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis
- Malnutrition
- Neurological problems
- Cardiovascular problems
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- HIV/AIDS related to intravenous drug use
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Bladder disorders
Services Provided
Origins’ superior medical care contributes to our renowned reputation as a leader in addiction treatment. We offer medically managed detox as well as ongoing medical care for comorbid physical conditions. Our medical services are provided by an on-staff medical team of nurses, medical practitioners and psychiatric practitioners with direction and oversight provided by our Chief Medical Director and Chief of Psychiatric Services.
Key Components of Origins’ Comprehensive Medical Services Include:
- Thorough physical evaluations upon admission
- Top-tier care for populations other facilities cannot support
- A licensed medical team with years of addiction medicine experience
- Psychiatrists who prescribe appropriate medication according to ongoing assessments
- Education about long-term health management
- Treatment of chronic pain with non-narcotic medications and therapies
- Personalized continuing care plans that include medical recommendations
State-of-the-Art Medical Detox Program
Medical detox is a critical first step in recovery for many of our patients. Over the course of addiction, the body learns to rely on drugs or alcohol to produce certain hormones and neurotransmitters, leading to chemical imbalance. Without drugs or alcohol, the body becomes physically unstable, resulting in withdrawal symptoms that can be both uncomfortable and dangerous.
Detox is the process during which a patient moves through withdrawal toward normalized brain and body function. The medical detox program at Origins Recovery Center is overseen by licensed medical professionals who provide compassionate oversight as all traces of alcohol or drugs leave the body. This approach ensures that each man in our care is as comfortable as possible and protected from health complications during withdrawal. We utilize safe medications, careful nutritional planning, and alternative interventions to keep symptoms under control. Our nursing team is available 24/7, providing round-the-clock monitoring to ensure each patient’s well-being and safety.
Integrated Treatment with Caring Providers
Co-occurring medical conditions need to be treated at the same time as addiction, in the same place, with the same treatment team. Origins’ multidisciplinary providers include skilled nurses, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, and other medical doctors, all of whom have extensive experience in addiction treatment. These dedicated professionals keep a close eye on patients as they move through detox and residential treatment, and respond with new services, as needed. Every plan for continuing care also includes recommendations for ongoing medical treatment, with a focus on self-care practices related to overall wellness and health.
Responsible Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction is a disease which affects the body, mind and spirit, and because addiction is very difficult to break, many people with opioid use disorders struggle to make it past the early days of recovery. Medical research definitively indicates that many people with opioid addiction benefit from some form of recovery-oriented medication during the treatment process. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, MAT may increase patient retention and decrease the rate of relapse. At Origins, we offer two types of MAT – both with very different uses.
Suboxone for Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
Over a decade ago, the FDA approved the use of an opioid-naloxone combination (buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone) for the treatment of opioid dependence in the U.S. This medication can suppress a person’s desire for opioids by providing a partial block on opioid receptors in the brain. It also partially stimulates this receptor and helps relieve the excruciating withdrawal symptoms that can lead to relapse. Buprenorphine is offered to all opioid addicted patients during the detox and withdrawal process.
Vivitrol for Recovery Support
Vivitrol is a non-narcotic extended release version of the daily oral medication naltrexone. It is given once a month via injection. Vivitrol is an opiate blocker that prevents opiates from connecting with receptors in the brain. When used tandem with other clinical and spiritual therapies, this medication combats the obsession to use and decreases the potential for a person to experience a high if they relapse. Until they are able to heal emotionally and spiritually, this medication can be used as a non-addictive medical support during the delicate months of early recovery.