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.
Drug use in the workplace is much more prevalent than you’d think. Many addicts are functioning addicts, and can usually hide their addiction pretty well. They can be your accountant, your favorite cashier at your local grocery store, your child’s teacher or even your...
Most people don’t fully understand addiction. As a result, there are many misconceptions about this mental health disorder floating around. Many believe that addiction is completely curable and that addicts can quit whenever they want. These thoughts are harmful and...
Robert Downey, Jr. played a functional alcoholic in the film Iron Man, after dealing with a far less functional form of addiction in real life. (GQ) This may sound like a strange thing for a recovery website to say, but we’d like to talk about Iron Man. For those who...
Drugs are enough of a problem in the United States as it is, but synthetic drugs are making the problem much, much worse. People flock to synthetic drugs because they are more difficult to regulate, granting easier access to the general public. The problem is, while...
To those who have lived and struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, it should come as no surprise that addiction is generally considered to be a family disease. It’s something that we’ve covered numerous times, whether discussing the family’s role in staging a...
“Will they be happy? Will they be healthy? Will I be good enough to give them the life they need? What if I can’t do it?” These are questions that plague just about every new parent. There are even some out there who desperately want to be parents, but will constantly...
Whether or not we wish to admit it, we all have our own beliefs regarding the typical addict personality. The problem is that some of us have a much broader view on this than others. That is usually because we have met numerous other addicts, either through social...
Some time back, we published a mother’s thoughts on medication assisted treatment (MAT), including the most common arguments both for and against this particular recovery tool and how it fits into the overall recovery process, especially the Florida Model of...
“Please, please, please – don’t let her be drunk.” Those were the words of my little prayer, the one I would whisper to myself every day, over and over, as I walked home from school and stood with my hand on the front door handle to my childhood house -- from the time...
In our recent article regarding the tragic life of Amy Winehouse, we chronicled the story of her substance abuse during every year between 2005 and her death due to alcohol poisoning in 2011. Aside from the outline of her struggles with substance dependency itself,...
The cycle of addiction is one that’s all too often unbroken. However, with professional help, your loved one can not only get over his or her issues, but they can go on to live healthy and prosperous lives.
Hi Everyone - This is a message for all of you Moms and Dads out there who have just discovered that your son or daughter is an addict. I know - you are beyond scared; actually, terrified is a much more accurate word. I have been down the same road, for...
Medication Assisted Treatment for addicts, sometimes called MAT, consists of several different medications, the most common of which are Suboxone and Methadone.
When displaying signs of alcohol abuse and dependency, it is important to take action quickly before it turns into an addiction.
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.