Choosing Medications for Opioid Recovery: How Suboxone and Vivitrol Compare
If you or a loved one is navigating the path to recovery from opioid use disorder, you’ve probably heard two names come up a lot: Suboxone and Vivitrol. Choosing between them can feel like a high-stakes decision, but the truth is that it is not about finding the “best” medication in a vacuum. It’s about finding the […]
What is 7-OH? The Potent Kratom Derivative You Need to Know About
If you have spent any time in a local Michigan smoke shop or gas station lately, you have likely seen colorful displays for 7-OH tablets, shots, and extracts. For years, companies have marketed kratom as a simple, natural leaf from Southeast Asia, a botanical supplement for energy or mild pain relief. Recently, the kratom landscape […]
What I Wish More People Understood About Mental Health: A Clinical Director’s Perspective
I have spent more than a decade working in behavioral health across inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient levels of care. Throughout my years, I have sat with individuals and families during some of the most painful and vulnerable moments of their lives. But for me, this work has never been purely professional. […]
After the Watch Podcast: Real Conversations on Mental Health for Veterans and First Responders
We are excited to introduce our new podcast, After the Watch, for Veterans and first responders. Here, we can be open and honest about the realities of the job as we discuss leadership culture, trauma, PTSD, substance use, and mental health. We have created the podcast to provide a safe space to break down the […]
11 Key Considerations when Choosing a Detox Center
Deciding to go to detox can feel overwhelming. We see the interaction in the parking lot at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus when loved ones drop off clients. Uncertainty, physical discomfort, emotional vulnerability, and relationship conflicts converge. You can imagine the thought process. Maybe I can do this on my own. I don’t need to […]
Recovery Stories: Breaking Up with Addiction
Addiction is like being in an abusive relationship with yourself. And, like all toxic love affairs, after years of pain, guilt, secrecy, and deception, the chickens eventually come home to roost. When we finally decide to face those demons, it can seem like an insurmountable task – a mountain too high to climb alone. […]
Fun & Camaraderie at the JOHN Veterans & First Responders Open House!
Thank you to everyone who attended our JOHN Open House last week in honor of our new facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thanks also to Sanford Director of Nursing Natalie Frelix for the fabulous photos! The party was a great success, with Sanford Behavioral Health team members mixing with neighbors, veterans, referral partners, veteran services […]
The Rise in Kratom Addiction (an RN’s Perspective)
The Sanford Behavioral Health (Sanford) nursing team (of which I am a part) all had concerned looks on their faces. It was early Monday morning, and the unit was quiet. “Just make sure you don’t say the ‘q’ word,” admonished one of the therapists as he walked by the nurse’s station. Then, just as the […]
Addiction Treatment – Social Model or Medical Model?
Treatment for substance use disorders (addiction or SUD) comes in many forms. The”best fit” may vary significantly depending on an individual’s background, history of use, medical comorbidities, support system, and other factors. Two specific models of addiction treatment are often discussed—the medical model of addiction treatment and the social model of addiction treatment. The […]
Overnight Admissions Calls: A CEO’s Wild Ride
As the CEO of a behavioral health company, I never thought I’d be taking overnight admissions calls again, but it has been awesome! We created 24/7 EZ Admissions because nighttime or weekends can present an opportunity for an individual to seek help that they may talk themselves out of during the daytime or workweek. When […]
