OUR PROGRAMS

The mission of New Directions Healthcare is to provide a positive difference every day in the lives of an individual with an opioid addiction.

Services: Service

METHADONE MAINTENANCE

Methadone Maintenance Treatment has been proven to be the most successful treatment for an opiate addiction. Methadone Maintenance Treatment for an opiate addiction at New Directions Healthcare is supported with substance abuse and life-skills counseling as well as supervised medical care. By treating an opioid addiction that includes the use of methadone it has been associated with reduced overdose deaths, retention of persons in treatment, decreased heroin use, reduced relapse, and prevention of spread of infectious disease.

Methadone is very long-acting and is normally taken once a day. The proper oral dose remains fully effective for 24 – 36 hours in preventing the beginning of withdrawal symptoms and takes effect slowly. Individuals will not experience the euphoria caused by street drugs because methadone has slower and gradual effects. Methadone works on parts of the brain and spinal cord to block the “high” caused by using opiates. It also helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms caused by opiate use.

Methadone can alleviate not only the physical symptoms of withdrawal, but also the psychological dependency and craving caused by opioid addiction. Methadone frees individuals from the dangerous practice of injecting, along with the risk of exposure to HIV and Hepatitis C.

We also offer Guest Dosing - information about Guest Dosing can be found on the Guest Dosing tab.

SUBOXONE

The primary and active ingredient in Suboxone is Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which is a medication that stimulates activity at opioid receptor sites in the brain. Suboxone also includes Naloxone, a medication that can block other opioid like drugs from binding to a receptor. This combination of medication at the proper dose level provides relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms, opioid cravings, and allows the patient to resume regular daily activities. Suboxone is either a tablet or film that is taken under the tongue.

Our unique program will offer weekly counseling and weekly medical provider visits for those individuals who are committed to their recovery. We also offer Subutex for patients that become pregnant while on Suboxone.

VIVITROL

Vivitrol, which is also known as Naltrexone is a once a month injectable non-opioid medication that helps patients who are opioid dependent in remission but at a risk of relapse and alcohol dependency in remission.

Vivitrol is used to prevent relapse in people who became dependent on opioid medicine and then stopped using it. Naltrexone can help keep individuals from feeling a "need" to use opioids. Vivitrol is also used to treat alcoholism by reducing one's urge to drink alcohol, this may help one drink less or stop drinking altogether.

Patients cannot be actively using opioids or drinking alcohol. Vivitrol can be utilized to those patients that completed alcohol detoxification and opioid detoxification and are at risk for relapse. All patients receiving Vivitrol will participate in a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support, urine drug screens, physicals, and blood work.

Psychosocial support will include both individual and group counseling. New Directions Healthcare will treat those 18 years and older in the Erie Community.

Vivitrol is contraindicated in patients:

Receiving opioid analgesics
With current physiologic opioid dependence
In acute opioid withdrawal
Who have failed the naloxone challenge test or have a positive urine screen for opioids
Women who are pregnant
Patients who have hypersensitivity or allergy to naltrexone

PREGNANCY TREATMENT

New Directions Healthcare specializes in the care of pregnant opioid dependent patients. All females are screened for pregnancy prior to admission to the New Directions Healthcare facility.

For more than 30 years, methadone maintenance treatment has been used to help women struggling with opioid addictions while pregnant. Individuals who are pregnant, or become pregnant during their treatment are closely monitored by medical providers to ensure the health and safety of mother and child. Pregnant mothers are seen frequently to monitor their treatment, progress, and to monitor their dose. It is mandatory that all pregnant mothers are seen by an OBGYN.

Pregnancy causes an increase in the mother's metabolism and may cause a woman to feel that her dose "does not hold". Our treatment providers will evaluate the patient and may recommend split dosing to allow the dose of methadone to have a steady state, be more stable and not have wide fluctuations, this is safer for both mother and child.

An individual participating in methadone treatment must notify a New Directions Healthcare staff member immediately if she becomes pregnant or if she suspects she may be pregnant. Additional therapeutic support will be part of treatment / services for pregnant individuals. All of our providers and counselors are here to support our patients and want to help all mothers have a healthy and safe pregnancy.

We also offer Subutex for pregnant mothers, females that are on Suboxone and become pregnant will be switched to Subutex.

New Direction Healthcare Counseling Room

GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

Individual Counseling

A process through which individuals work one-on-one with a trained therapist—in a safe, caring, and confidential environment—in order to:

Explore feelings, beliefs, or behaviors
Work through challenging or influential memories
Identify changes needed to be made in their life
Better understand themselves and others
Set personal goals and work towards desired change

Group Counseling

A powerful tool for growth and change. This form of counseling is usually comprised of up to 10 patients lead by a trained therapist. Some of the group counseling classes we offer are wellness and relaxation, relapse prevention, and stress management. New Directions Healthcare offers specialized classes for expecting mothers which consist of prenatal care, what to expect while in hospital, and effects of methadone on your child.

Outpatient Counseling

Outpatient Counseling for drug or alcohol substance abuse, can be used in combination with Vivitrol, methadone pharmacotherapy, or drug free. Outpatient counseling uses treatment and intervention to increase the strengths and resources of each individual served. Services in this program include:

Biopsychosocial Assessment
Treatment Planning
Group, Individual, Family and Couples Counseling
Care Coordination
Consultation

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of group counseling that uses specific techniques to help patients achieve success in their recovery. CBT includes the following:

Women's Group
Healthy coping mechanisms
Nutritional therapy and healthy lifestyle living
12 step addictions group
Recovery through Art

Questions about our services? Reach out today to learn more.