A key part of treatment is creating safety plans and recovery plans with the patients to keep them moving forward. It helps people identify their vulnerabilities and create a plan for how to handle them. Vulnerabilities can be everything from biological to psychological and social. “There’s as much art to it as there is science,” Dr. Heidenreich said. “Everybody has different vulnerabilities that can lead to abuse.” The emphasis in Addiction Recovery Services is on treating the whole person. Some drug addictions have their roots in trauma or mental health issues, and it’s important to treat those problems in addition to the addiction. Dr. Heidenreich compares it to a diabetic patient who may receive insulin as well as recommendations for behavioral changes, such as dietary changes. Risingabove challenges The program is also geared toward treating different kinds of addictions, which tend to fluctuate as substances and society change. Dr. Heidenreich noted that alcohol addiction is a constant and opioids are a major concern, but there are always new, more potent substances coming out. Marijuana is another ongoing concern, though Dr. Heidenreich said he’s noticed less emphasis on it as it becomes legalized in some states and more common. While that creates less fear about the drug, it can still be dangerous. He recently treated a case of cannabis-induced psychosis. It is important for people struggling with substance abuse to know that even if they have tried to recover in the past and relapsed, there is still hope. It’s not uncommon for people to suffer relapses after treatment, but those can be overcome. “It is not uncommon for patients to go through treatment more than once before they experience long-term success,” Dr. Heidenreich said. “It’s just part of the process of getting better. Recovery rates are every bit as good as with other diseases. You see people getting better at a high rate.” The emphasis in Addiction Recovery Services is that recovery is possible. Lisa said she sometimes encounters former patients in public, and they’re always grateful for the help they received at Kootenai Health. “It’s very fulfilling working with this patient population,” she said. “People can get better and have 100 percent fulfilling lives.” Dr. Heidenreich said it’s important to take away the shame that is often associated with addiction. “It is a very common condition,” he said. “The more we can talk about it and take it out of the shadows, the easier it is.” Help is here Contact Kootenai Health’s Addiction Recovery program by calling (208) 625-4848, emailing KootenaiHealthAR@kh.org or visiting KH.org/behavioral-health/ addiction-recovery. Eric Heidenreich, M.D. Lisa Bunker, LCPC
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