Addiction is a disease, but it is so much more. Learn more about this complex condition that millions of Americans are struggling with right now.
Using illicit substances is a dangerous game to play. Substance abuse is no joke, and it impacts a vast amount of individuals throughout the world. What’s even worse and more frightening is that some of those who abuse illicit drugs or alcohol are abusing multiple...
A court-ordered drug or alcohol assessment is used to determine whether or not addiction is present. The assessment is either mandated through court or a concerned individual. In this case, we’ll be getting into the details of a court-related drug or alcohol...
Many clients who enter treatment seem very skeptical when they first come through the doors. For many, it seems easy to blame this on a general unwillingness to get sober. Unfortunately, the root of the problem is sometimes much darker. Because for every client who...
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All addictive drugs are different chemically and produce different effects. However, all drugs are same in one major way: they take control of the brain’s normal functioning. In other words, they change the brain’s response to memory, judgement, emotions, and more....
Did any of you have an “Aha!” moment in your recovery from addiction? I know my son Sam did, and I understand many other addicts do as well. But this article describes a different sort of “Aha!” moment, the one I had in my own experience as a mother of an...
There’s nothing wrong with being a bit introverted. Many addicts and alcoholics are introverts. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we never enjoy being social, or even that we lack social skills. It just means that social interactions tend to leave us a bit drained, and...
People typically argue on the subject of medication-assisted treatment for patients with substance use disorders. Some believe that MAT cannot substitute other forms of treatment such as 12-step programs and cognitive behavioral therapy. Others believe that MAT is the...
These days, it seems nearly impossible to read anything about addiction without hearing about the opioid epidemic. We hear it regulated to specific areas, such as California or New England. In some cases, you might specifically hear about a heroin epidemic or...
When substance abusers first enter addiction treatment, their entry survey or interview almost always contains one specific question. This question pertains to whether the addict or alcoholic in question has ever suffered from “DTs.” Many patients falsely assume this...
If you’ve ever seen certain movies, such as Limitless or Lucy, you’re well aware of the commonly regurgitated myth that we only use approximately 10% of our brains. This myth stems from the fact that different parts of the brain control different functions. And in...
Addicts and alcoholics hurt many people. Family, friends, themselves. At least, these are the three we see discussed most often. But there is at least one other person often hurt or betrayed by the actions of an addict or alcoholic. And in some cases, this...
Gender equality dominates the airwaves as of late, especially insofar as it concerns women. All over the news and social media, we see arguments concerning pay gaps, treatment in the work place, and opportunities for advancement. Every once in a while, we see small...
When we enter recovery through AA or NA, everyone tells us the same thing—we need to find a sponsor. But finding a sponsor feels like a big deal. Where do we look? How do we know they’re right for us? What if we ask for their help and they turn us down? With all of...
sober.
Whether you or your family member is struggling with addiction, you are not alone in this journey. Explore our expansive addiction resources, including our guides for teens, parents, and spouses, as well as relatable recovery stories from Amethyst Alumni.
Call our 24/7 helpline to speak with an admissions cordinators and get the support you need when you need it.
Laurel McGinnisLaurel, as the Director of Corporate Compliance for USR, is responsible for ensuring that the facility follows all federal and state regulatory requirements, accreditation standards and industry best practices. Laurel has over twenty years’ experience in legal and regulatory affairs in both the public and private sectors. She attended the University of Kansas where she studied political science, and she is designated by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) as a Certified National Investigator and Inspector (CNII). Prior to joining Amethyst, she served as the Director of Enforcement for a state regulatory body.
Brie RodriguezBrie joined the Amethyst Recovery team in 2017 as an HR assistant. Her over 15 years’ experience working in healthcare administration and management quickly launched her into a leadership role. Now serving as the Director of Human Resources since 2018, she leads our organization through the intricate requirements of recordkeeping, recruitment, staff development as well as compliance. While also directing all aspects of HR including payroll, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as licensing and accreditation standards.
Brie graduated as a high school valedictorian with a major in Health Technologies and continued her studies at Springfield Technical Community College with a focus on healthcare. She served in Operations and HR for a finance company for ten years, before returning to healthcare and eventually arriving at USR.
Brie works closely with the leadership team to develop and implement effective HR strategies that support our organization’s goals and values. As an HR professional, Brie’s primary focus is on ensuring that our organization attracts and retains the most talented and qualified individuals to help us fulfill our mission of providing compassionate care to those struggling with addiction. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those working in the substance abuse field, Brie is committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of others.
Brie is known for being compassionate and empathetic as well as for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive situations and find solutions that benefit everyone involved. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and their fur babies!
CORI BAIZACori’s key responsibilities include supervising financial operations, and daily financial reporting and account management. Cori’s goal is to ensure all patient’s needs are met in an accurate and timely manner. She is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator with The Florida Certification Board and licensed Notary Public in the state of Florida. Her experience includes accounting and finance training.
JOHN GAUJohn’s key responsibilities include maintaining the day-to-day operations from both a clinical and housing perspective. John’s goal is to monitor every department to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place and client care is carried out effortlessly. John joined Amethyst as a behavioral health technician where he quickly developed strong personal relationships with the clients through support and guidance. John understands first hand the struggles of addiction and strives to provide a safe environment for clients. John is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator.
MARK GUDIMMark’s key responsibilities include handling day-to-day maintenance matters and oversees our Environment of Care management plan in conjunction with Joint Commission and DCF regulations. Mark’s goal is to provide a safe environment where distractions are minimized, and treatment is the primary focus for clients and staff alike. Mark received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is a licensed residential home inspector in the state of Florida and relates his unique experience of analyzing a property and/or housing condition to determining any necessary course of action at our facility.
Jeffrey M. Bishop, D.O.Dr. Jeffer M. Bishop was born and raised in Florida. He joined the U.S. Navy while attending the University of Nebraska for this undergraduate degree in Medicine. When he left the Navy, he went on to graduate from e Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985.
He worked in Family Medicine for 35 years before retiring from his practice. He then went on to be the Chief Medical Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center for an additional seven years until resigning from his position in 2013 and started Addiction Medicine.
He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-APAmanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society.