RAM Staff

Financial Manager David B.	A MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF AT RAM CLINIC	Program Director Viccie B.
Nurse Sue M.	As heroin use becomes more popular among younger and upscale users, many are now looking for treatment which will address the debilitating physical and social effects of long-term heroin use. For users who have tried treatment and failed, synthetic opioid treatment programs have been a popular way to address the negative effects of opiate dependence. Federal Regulations for maintenance synthetic opioid treatment usually require that attempts at other types of treatment, such as detox, acupuncture, inpatient and outpatient treatment, have failed.	Medical Director Paul C.
Nurse Judy S.	Methadone treats only opiate addiction; this medication will not address cocaine, alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence. The treatment process usually begins with a staff member completing an assessment and drug use history. The patient is also examined by a medical professional, asked to have blood work up studies completed as well as a urine drug screen being performed. Treatment consists of a prescribed daily dosage of liquid methadone, counseling, urine drug screens and therapy groups.	Nurse Paula L.
Nurse Geraldine C.	Methadone has been shown to reduce cravings for heroin while not altering a person's mood. This allows the patient to present to the program early in the morning for their medication and then continue on to work or return home to care for their family without the side effects typically caused by other opiates or the discomforts of withdrawal symptoms. Advocates of methadone maintenance treatment say that it's a good way to control an addiction to opiates, especially when a patient has tried everything else without success.	Admin. Assistant Sophia C.
Addiction Counselor Lavonne B.	Studies have shown that methadone is safer to use than heroin, is less costly than other treatment programs and reduces many of the disease risks associated with intravenous drug use such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Not only is methadone effective for the treatment of heroin, but it is also an effective treatment for the use of other illicit opiates. Nationwide today, many persons suffer from an addiction to pain medications, the greater majority of them are ones being prescribed by physicians and being diverted for illicit use	Addiction Intern Paula D.
Reception / Admin. Nicole C.	The old thought process of methadone being used only for the intravenous heroin user is rapidly changing as nationwide we see a greater number of people with prescription drug addictions such as oxycotin and other narcotic analgesics.	Clinical Supervisor Harrison D.
Addiction Counselor Rick B.	While the use of methadone reduces cravings for heroin, unless it is combined with counseling, it will do nothing to alleviate the social and emotional consequences of long-term use.	Addiction Counselor Braxton T.
Addiction Counselor Melissa F.	Synthetic opioid treatment can be an effective, way to manage an addiction to opiates, especially for people who have tried other means of addressing their addiction. Used alone, however, it doesn't address the core issues surrounding addiction. That's were the training and experience of the Staff at RAM CLINIC come into play. They are available to offer solutions and guidance to patients as they move from the wreckage addiction causes in daily life to responsible, productive and contributing people in the world they live.	Addiction Counselor Garry P.