By John V. Chisholm III, MD
Department of Family Practice
Board-certified in Addiction Medicine

If you find yourself struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, Reliant Medical Group’s Behavioral Health department can help you find the assistance you need to overcome your problem.

You should know you are not alone. A 2015 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that about four percent of Americans met the criteria for drug use disorder and about 10 percent have had drug use disorder at some time in their lives. The study also found that addiction frequently co-occurs with a range of mental health disorders.

The 2015 study also found that the majority of people suffering from substance use disorders never receive treatment. At Reliant, our medical professionals recognize opioid use disorder, alcoholism, and other addictions as chronic illnesses that require appropriate treatment. We also realize that without seeking highly professional, compassionate help, many people will not be able to overcome their substance use problems.

Please discuss with your Reliant provider options for obtaining supportive substance use treatment services, including therapy sessions with licensed providers, recovery group meetings, and medication-assisted treatment.

Medication-assisted treatment has proven particularly effective in helping people overcome opioid addiction. Paired with counseling and other support methods, medication-assisted treatment has worked successfully when other methods have failed. You can learn more about medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction in this article.

All of our primary care and behavioral health professionals work closely together to ensure that patients in need of help with substance use disorder are guided to a treatment option that works best for them.

If you are interested in seeking help for your drug or alcohol use, please talk to your primary care or behavioral health provider. Learn more here.