CleanSlate Blog

Many employees at CleanSlate have traveled their own personal journeys with addiction, either with a loved one or through their own substance use disorder. For some, it's both. We asked several employees to share their journeys of coping and recovery for a Pocket Guide directed towards families and friends of people suffering from addiction. 

Here is one employee's experience, in his own words:

Mark*: Care Coordinator, CleanSlate

Muncie, IN - CleanSlate Centers, a national leader in outpatient addiction medicine, has added to its significant presence in Indiana with a new medication-assisted treatment center in Muncie. The physician-operated office, which marks the company’s tenth center in Indiana, opened its doors to patients by appointment or walk-in this week.

CleanSlate’s decision to open a center in Muncie was a direct response to heavy demand from the company’s patients in nearby Anderson and Alexandria, some of whom live closer to Muncie. More than 100 patients in the Anderson office requested to be transferred to the Muncie center.

Lewis Center, OH - CleanSlate Centers continues to expand access to medication-assisted treatment across the country with its newest center for opioid and alcohol addiction, in Lewis Center, Ohio. The physician-operated office, located on the grounds of Second Chance Counseling at 6011 Columbus Pike, Suite B, opened its doors to patients yesterday.

A national leader in outpatient addiction medicine, CleanSlate marks its first center in Ohio with the Lewis Center facility, with plans to open additional Ohio centers next year. The company has been eagerly welcomed by the Columbus-area community, which suffers from a shortage of quality providers for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). 

Even prior to CleanSlate's opening, the Department of Public Health in Columbus expressed its interest in partnership. "We are very excited for CleanSlate to open in Columbus, and we feel that many of our clients could benefit from attending its program," said DPH Program Manager Greg Lanham. "We would love to partner with CleanSlate's program to have our opioid and alcohol clients referred there for off-site MAT services." 

Phoenix, AZ – CleanSlate Centers, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol addiction, is now seeing patients by appointment at its new center in Phoenix, Arizona. The office-based center is located inside the Building Blocks Counseling (BBC) offices at 7725 N. 43rd Avenue, Suite 522, and will be known as CleanSlate Phoenix BBC. The center’s staff began seeing patients this week.

"There is so much stigma around addiction and so many people who are ashamed. I hear it from patients; they feel like people look down on them. I used to be one of those patients."

This is the recovery journey of Diego*, a Center Manager at one of CleanSlate's outpatient addiction medicine centers. Many of our staff came to work in the field of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) because of their personal experience with addiction, whether through their own substance use disorder or that of a loved one. We asked several of these employees to share their journeys of coping and recovery for a Pocket Guide directed towards families and friends of people suffering from addiction.  

Here is Diego's story, in his own words:

Every year during the third week of October, colleges and universities across the country rally to raise awareness of the issues surrounding alcohol use on campus. This year, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week falls on October 19th through the 25th, and the urgency is high.

Underage drinking has declined over the past decade, but binge drinking is on the rise, especially amongst college students. Consider the findings of the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

You’ve decided to seek treatment for your substance use disorder. Or you want to help someone you care about start treatment for their addiction. Congratulations on initiating the first step towards recovery.

Now the question is: what kind of treatment should you pursue?

The first thing to understand is that each person's journey to recovery will look a little different based upon his or her unique circumstances and needs. Drug and alcohol addictions are chronic diseases, meaning that they can be managed - like diabetes - but not cured.

However, these addictions can be treated, with the goal of stopping use, preventing relapse, and regaining control of one’s life. Knowledge is power, so understanding all of the available treatment options can help you find the best fit and maximize your chances of success.

The effects of addiction ripple out widely, to parents, children, spouses, other relatives, friends and colleagues. Facing the addiction of someone you care about can be terrifying, confusing, and fraught with emotion, making it tough to figure out  the best steps to help your loved one. 

At CleanSlate, some of our staff came to work in the field of addiction medicine because of their personal experience with addiction, whether through their own substance use disorder or that of a loved one. We asked several of these employees to share their journeys of coping and recovery for a Pocket Guide directed towards families and friends of people suffering from addiction. 

Opioid addiction currently affects 6 million people in the U.S., according to a recent report, far more than previously estimated. Last year, more than 72,000 people died from drug overdoses, a great many of these from opioids. Alcohol addiction affects and kills even more people every year than drugs.

But even when people want help for their addiction to opioids or alcohol, many wonder if they can afford treatment. Sometimes, the belief that treatment is beyond their financial means stops people from seeking any help at all.

The disease of addiction does not discriminate. Drug and alcohol addiction crosses every boundary of gender, age, race, geography and socio-economic status. People suffering from addiction can appear perfectly normal, with jobs, families and other responsibilities that convey a life which is humming along smoothly.

Facing the truth can be painful when you or someone you care about show signs of addiction. It’s natural to cling to denial, especially since most people who suffer from addiction are skillful at masking their reality.