Hope to Recovery
Professionals
Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera
Dr. Colon-Rivera serves as a clinical advisor for the Advisory on Alcohol and Other Drugs committee for the State of Pennsylvania. He is also the senior advisor for the Opioid State Targeted Response Technical Assistance for Puerto Rice. As well as co-founder and co-chair of CrearConSauld Inc., a nonprofit organization with the goals of supporting and conducting non-partisan research, educational activities, and advocacy to increase public awareness of mental health and substance use disorders in Puerto Rico and the Latino community in the United States
Evlis Rosado
A Philadelphia resident, Rosado was a former addict and now is currently an Education and Community Outreach Coordinator at Prevention Point Philadelphia, a non-profit medical organization that resides in Kensington.
Dr. Cheryl Pope
Dr. Pope has a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, a Ph. D. in Addictions Psychology from Capella University and in 2011, Cheryl graduated from the Bryn Mawr College Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute. Cheryl started her career with APM in 2009 as a Quality Assurance Coordinator, and now is vice president of Mental Health services on APM (Asociacion puetorriqueños en Marcha)
Treatments
There are several different treatments available for people Alcoholics and addicts. Some treatment options include:
Residential/long-term inpatients
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This treatment is suggested for people with a long term alcohol problem and chronic health problems
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Intensive outpatients/ outpatients
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This treatment is suggested for people who prefer to live at home or have prior responsibilities. It is said to be less ‘intense compared to inpatients. However, intensive outpatients are required to compete for the same number of hours as inpatients. They require more “focus and commitment” leaving them less time for their other responsibilities.
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Individual/group therapy
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This treatment involves seeing a therapist who leads a group or works with individual patients. The purpose of therapy is to help in changing behaviors, dealing with stress and other triggers, building a support system and setting goals for patients to reach.
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Sober living
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This is a treatment for people who have finished a rehabilitation program but need a change in their environment to maintain their sobriety. Sober living homes provide a “drug-free environment to help residents focus on getting a job, attending school or retraining programs, and work on new sober behaviors.”
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Behavioral treatments
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The main goal of this treatment is to help patients change their drinking behaviors through counseling.
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Medications
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This is a treatment that can be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Sometimes they can be taken alone or with counseling. There are currently three types of medications that are ‘approved’ to help people stop or reduce their drinking problem and prevent the chances of relapse. (Disulfiram, Acamprosate, and Naltrexone)
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Mutual-support groups
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This treatment provides people with peer support to quit or cut back on their addiction. This is usually combined with other types of treatments.
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“Detox”​
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This treatment for alcohol addiction is one of the main ‘first steps’. This detoxification process is it a ‘key step’ and its main goal is to stop drinking so that your body has time to to get rid of the remaining alcohol in their system. However, it is important to do this under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Due to the possible withdrawal side effects.
Organizations
If you're from the Philadelphia area, here are some local organizations:
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Centercityrecovery.com: This is an outpatient recovery center located in Philadelphia, that provides a variety of assistance. Their goal is to treat addictions including but not limited to alcohol and drugs.
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Alcohol.org: Substance abuse counseling
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Prevention Point: a nonprofit organization providing harm reduction services to Philadelphia and surrounding areas.