Behavioral Health Counseling & Psychotherapy 800-694-1158
Dr. Sam Pirozzi LLC (973) 694-5656 290 Union Blvd, Suite #5
Totowa, NJ 07512 info@drsampirozzi.com
Principles of Effective Treatment
Addiction is a complex but treatable disease
Dr. Pirozzi provides assessment, evaluation and outpatient counseling services based upon the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) patient placement criteria. ASAM provides guidelines for placing patients into an appropriate treatment program based upon the severity of their illness.
As an outpatient cognitive behavioral therapist Dr. Pirozzi typically addresses a patient's motivation to change, examines their relapse potential and explores methods of replacing drug/alcohol-using activities with constructive and rewarding activities, improving problem solving skills, and facilitating better interpersonal relationships.
Referrals are sometimes made to physicians that provide medication assists therapies. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling. For example, Suboxone is effective in helping individuals addicted to opioids stabilize their lives and reduce their illicit drug use.
Oral Naltrexone and the extended-released injectable version (Vivitrol) are effective medications for some patients with alcohol dependence and since October 2010 opiate addiction. Other medications for alcohol dependence include acamprosate, disulfiram, and topiramate. For persons addicted to nicotine, a nicotine replacement product (such as patches, gum, or lozenges) or an oral medication (such as bupropion or varenicline) can be an effective component of treatment when part of a comprehensive behavioral treatment program.
Based upon the patient's assessed needs Dr. Pirozzi assists in establishing an individual treatment plan. This plan is modified as necessary to ensure that it meets the patient’s changing needs. Additionally patient’s working with the partner and/or family will be asked to establish a Relapse Prevention Plan. This contract will help establish recovery guidelines as well as an action plan.
Many substance abusing individuals also have other emotional/behavioral disorders. Patients presenting with one condition are assessed for the other(s). And when these problems co-occur, treatment addresses both including the referral for medications as appropriate.
Watch online: HBO ADDICTION, the centerpiece documentary of HBO's groundbreaking multi-media event, brings together the nation's leading experts on drug and alcohol addiction with a collection of award-winning filmmakers to shed light on addiction, its causes and the latest and most promising developments in treatments.
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