How Center for Health Care Services helps locals with substance use disorder

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Hundreds of locals affected by substance use disorder are recuperating throughout the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS).

“Second chances sometimes need second chances,” stated Armando Sanchez, a peer specialist manager at CHCS.

Sanchez works to assist other folks get off medication. It’s a battle he understands firsthand since he was once in lively dependancy for 30 years.

“Cocaine — that opened the door to many more things. I [have experience] with just about every drug,” Sanchez stated.

Now sober for 10 years, Sanchez admits he’s most commonly frightened about how the artificial opioid referred to as fentanyl is affecting other folks.

“Fentanyl has become easily accessible. It’s everywhere,” he stated.

Sanchez has some extent. According to the Texas Dept. of State Health Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration, felony drug networks are mass-producing counterfeit drugs made to appear to be prescription opioids and killing Texans within the procedure.

Data from the DSHS presentations that 2,160 other folks died in Texas closing 12 months from fentanyl poisoning.

Sanchez and his fellow peer specialist supervisors at CHCS are combating fentanyl via serving to other folks get off medication.

CHCS tells that greater than 600 other folks combating opioid dependancy are gaining access to medication-assisted remedy thru its systems. Most are given methadone, whilst others take suboxone.

“It provides stimulation to the opiate centers of the brain that prevent withdrawal. It presents physiologic withdrawal, psychological cravings and, therefore, helps the person to cease the unhealthy drug use that controls their life,” stated Dr. Christopher Healy, clinical director of the Opioid Addiction Treatment Services (OATS) program at CHCS.

Dr. Healy stated other folks additionally get get right of entry to to different services and products, reminiscent of housing, throughout the OATS program.

“Other aspects of treatment include things like professional counseling, being accountable by drug screening, and being seen by a medical doctor,” Healy stated.

“If you don’t treat the entirety of the person, your chance in reaching sobriety is not going to be nearly as high,” added Healy.

Dr. Healy informed that about part the folk getting remedy for opioid dependancy at CHCS keep off unlawful medication.

“Don’t give up on the individuals that are out there struggling. Addiction is a very powerful thing. It takes love and compassion to combat addiction,” stated Armando Sanchez.

To get right of entry to information about CHCS and its systems, click here.

For enrollment information at CHCS, visit here.

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