Chooper's Guide ... the Internet's most comprehensive substance abuse treatment, prevention and intervention resource directory.

Addiction Medicine Group



Phone Number

view phone310-601-9999

Address

Cedars-Sinai Medical Office Towers 8631 W. 3rd St., Suite 920E Los Angeles, California, United States 90048

Mail Address


Lo

Fax

view fax310-601-9998


» Leave Testimonial


Program Description

What We Do

The Addiction Medicine Group at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Office Towers is a group of physicians specializing in the medical treatment of addiction throughout all its stages, from initial detoxification and early recovery to maintenance and full sobriety.  As fully-trained psychiatrists, we are skilled in the screening, assessment, and treatment of underlying depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and other mental health conditions.  We bring a practical, evidence-based approach to the treatment of addiction.  We believe our work is an integral part of a multi-faceted treatment plan, which can include a therapist, participation in 12-step and other community-based groups, and sober living or residential treatment.  We are skilled in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning for addictive disorders.

 

AMG Offered Services


Evaluation

The initial evaluation process starts with an orientation to our clinic followed by an hour face-to-face appointment with a physician specializing in addiction.  Besides assessing possible substance abuse issues, we will evaluate the role of other mental health issues in each client, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, psychosis, impulsivity, mood swings, and co-occurring eating disorders.  If appropriate, medications can be prescribed and other parts of a recommended treatment plan are discussed.  Routine follow-up appointments are generally a half-hour, though more time is usually recommended for family meetings or complex issues.

Treatment Planning

AMG’s personalized treatment approach ensures that the recommended treatment plan is tailored to the individual needs of the client.  We know that addiction treatment can not be one-dimensional.  With the permission of the client, we can initiate communication with the client’s treating therapists, sponsors, and physicians to create and maintain a unified treatment plan.  We use the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria to determine the appropriate level of care to maximize treatment response and ensure patient safety.

Family-based Intervention & Support

Most individuals who are battling drug or alcohol addiction need help to recover from their disease.  With appropriate treatment and support, many are able to stop using substances and rebuild their lives.  However, many of our clients come to us with concerned family or friends who have been drastically affected by their loved one’s disease.  Sometimes, a family contacts us before their loved one is willing or able.  We can help educate families and loved ones about the addiction process, the client’s diagnosis and any co-occuring issues, and the recommended steps for recovery.

Outpatient Detoxification

Alcohol Detox:  In many cases, a person can weaned off an addictive substance on an outpatient basis, without need for hospitalization.  We can effectively treat uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that arise when someone abruptly stops drinking and can often cause a return to drinking.

Opiate Detox:  Buprenorphine (Suboxone®/Subutex®) has drastically changed the way the opiate users are detoxified.  Relief from withdrawal symptoms is achieved within hours of the first dose; then we work with patients to devise a taper plan to ultimately achieve a life off of opiates.

Psychopharmacology

There have been a number of new medications developed recently to decrease craving and help prevent relapse. Many have been approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and others have shown benefit in research studies.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a comprehensive treatment program with medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse disorders has been shown to:

  • Improve survival
  • Increase retention in treatment
  • Decrease illicit opiate use
  • Decrease hepatitis and HIV seroconversion
  • Decrease criminal activities
  • Increase employment
  • Improve birth outcomes in pregnant substance-abusing women

FDA-Approved Medications for Alcohol Dependence

Naltrexone (Vivitrol®/ Revia®)
Naltrexone is an opiate-blocker, but is effective for the treatment of alcoholism because much of the craving and pleasurable effects of alcohol come from its effects on the opiate systems in a person’s brain.  It is available as a tablet taken once daily (ReVia®) or as a monthly injection (Vivitrol®).

Acamprosate (Campral®)
Acamprosate is helpful for the maintenance of sobriety from alcohol.  It reduces the physical and emotional discomfort (e.g. sweating, anxiety, sleep disturbances) many people feel in the weeks and months after they’ve stopped drinking, which makes it easier for them not to drink after the immediate withdrawal period.

Disulfiram (Antabuse®)
Disulfiram was the first medication ever approved for the treatment of problem drinking.  It blocks the breakdown of alcohol, potentially causing unpleasant side effects if alcohol is ingested.  While most people know it as “the medication that makes you sick if you drink,” it is not intended to cause those side effects because it is intended to be a deterrent to drinking.

FDA-Approved Medications for Opiate Dependence

Buprenorphine (Suboxone®/Subutex®)
In October 2002, the FDA approved buprenorphine as a treatment for opiate dependence. Subutex® is buprenorphine alone, whereas Suboxone® is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.  The combination product is designed to decrease the potential for abuse by injection. It can be used as a means of detoxifying someone who is physically dependent on opiates, or, in chronic relapsers, can be a maintenance treatment to prevent relapse.  It is the only medication approved by the FDA for this use that can be prescribed in a doctor’s office.  It is a partial opiate agonist, which means that it only partially activiates a person’s opiate system, yet its higher binding-affinity helps it block out the effect of any other opiate a person may try to take, thus taking away the reason for taking any other opiates.

FDA-Approved Medications for Nicotine Dependence

Nicotine Replacement
Nicotine replacement products provide nicotine without smoking.  This helps to lessen the body’s craving for nicotine and to reduce withdrawal symptoms.  Replacement products come in several forms:  gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge.  Nicotine gum, patch and lozenges can be bought over-the-counter.  The nasal spray and inhaler (Nicotrol®) require a doctor’s prescription.

Bupropion (Zyban®/Wellbutrin®)
Bupropion is one of the best-tolerated antidepressants and also has anti-smoking and anti-craving properties. Bupropion raises the same chemicals that stimulants do, norepinephrine and dopamine, yet is not addictive. Although it does not contain nicotine, it can help people resist the urge to smoke because of its ability to also stimulate a person’s nicotine receptors.

Varenicline (Chantix®)
Varenicline is the most effective medication for the treatment of nicotine dependence and three times more effective than quiting “cold turkey.” The benefit of varencline is felt within days.  Studies show that this new drug successfully stimulates dopamine (the brain’s pleasure chemical) and stimulates but also blocks nicotine receptors.  The stimulation reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, helping to prevent a full relapse.  The blockade stops the effects of nicotine if you begin to smoke again.  Smokers have described attempting to smoke a cigarette while on varenicline as being like “licking an ashtray.”

General Psychopharmacology

Common mental health issues like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and insomnia often lie beneath and contribute to addiction.  There are a variety of options to address these issues to help strengthen one’s recovery.  These choices are too numerous to describe here, but can be discussed in our office.  All of the AMG physicians also specialize in general psychiatric treatment.

Drug Testing

Routine:  Drug testing is an excellent tool for people in early recovery.  It can be viewed as a way for a person in early recovery to hold themselves accountable to abstain from mind-altering drugs and alcohol.  It can also serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining sobriety, not just initiating it.

Randomized:  Our randomized drug testing program was modeled after those used by state medical boards and the Federal Aviation Administration for keeping medical professionals and airline pilots accountable for their recovery.  We can provide drug testing as often as deemed clinically necessary.