As the nation faces an opioid crisis, Memorial Healthcare System is doing its part at the community level, addressing the core of the issue – addiction – with initiatives that tackle it on multiple levels.
Memorial’s opioid response initiative – headed by Tammy Tucker, PsyD, Associate Administrator, Memorial Regional Hospital – develops programs that work to either break the cycle of addiction or prevent the cycle from starting in the first place.
Memorial’s addiction programs stand out from other providers’ in South Florida in two additional ways: First, Memorial provides immediate drug intervention in the emergency-room setting as soon as overdose victims present for treatment. Second, we offer the services of peer specialists, who – having experienced addiction themselves – can help patients navigate both the healthcare system and their transition to recovery.
Memorial Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program
When patients come through the ER as overdose cases, the MAT program helps them recover from addiction by making immediate interventions to address their substance cravings and behavioral issues. Patients are treated first, and then screened and offered MAT with continued initial stabilization until they can follow up in an outpatient setting. To date, Memorial has served 189 patients in MAT.
Mothers in Recovery
This program focuses on treating addiction in pregnancy, with the goal of helping mothers deliver healthy, drug-free babies. It offers comprehensive substance abuse treatment, plus obstetrical care, case management and supportive housing to help break the addiction cycle. Since its inception three years ago, the program has helped 109 women with 87 live births. Ninety-two percent of the babies were born drug-free.
The SHARE Program
SHARE offers medical detoxification services to patients who are able to receive treatment on an outpatient basis. The program, which addresses physiological and psychological dependency issues, includes a comprehensive medical assessment and plan for detox from opioids and other addictive substances like alcohol and sedatives.
Long-Action Therapy Clinic (LAT)
The LAT Clinic provides long-acting, injectable Naltrexone for patients battling addiction with opioids and/or alcohol and who are at risk for relapse. These monthly injections help control patients’ drug cravings so they can focus on their recovery.