FAQs
Yes, we accept Husky Health (CT Medicaid) and all private insurances including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, Humana, and Connecticare.
No, we are an addiction medicine practice that focuses on caring for patients with substance use disorders. Although, we do treat diseases induced by substance abuse and acute co-occurring medical conditions for the sake of high-quality care and patient convenience. We still recommend that all our patients establish with a primary care provider for routine health maintenance and chronic disease management.
Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is used for pain management during surgeries, post-operatively, acute trauma (ie fractures), and advanced-stage cancer. The reason it is so dangerous is because Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. A minute amount can create an overdose situation.
Recognizing the signs of an overdose is critical for saving lives. Symptoms may include:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Cold or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including those caused by fentanyl. Due to the strength of fentanyl, multiple doses of naloxone may be necessary. If an overdose is suspected, it is vital to call emergency services immediately.
Suboxone is a prescription medication combining buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing a high. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist which binds to the Mu receptors in the brain. The Naloxone component is an antagonist which prevents safety against abuse and overdose.
No, we do not prescribe or manage methadone therapy. Instead, we utilize suboxone a safer alternative for opiate dependence management.
Urine drugs screens are required for patient safety and DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) compliance. We may prescribe medications that are federally regulated controlled substances. Also, the UDS helps guide therapy and monitor progress.
Primary Addiction Medicine Care of Connecticut, LLC believes in the Harm reduction model. The harm reduction model is a public health approach designed to reduce the negative health, social, and legal consequences associated with drug use and other high-risk behaviors. It is built on the philosophy of “meeting people where they are” providing non-judgmental, compassionate, and evidence-based services without requiring abstinence as a precondition for support.
Rather than focusing on punishment or immediately forcing an end to substance use, the model focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals and communities while reducing risks like disease transmission and fatal overdoses
Harm reduction is not the opposite of recovery; it is a pragmatic, compassionate strategy for keeping people alive and healthy enough to choose recovery when they are ready.
Yes, for those patients for whom it is not a contra-indication and if they meet strict criterion of qualifying diagnoses for adults.
Opioids trigger an intense rush of dopamine, a reward chemical, to be released in the brain. When the effects of the opioid wear off, you may want to experience those good feelings again so you seek out another opioid dose.
When you take opioids for a long period of time, your body may get used to them. This creates physical dependence. So, when you stop taking opioids, you may have withdrawal symptoms.
These two terms are somewhat interchangeable. An opiate is the natural plant-derived substance found in the opium poppy (opium, morphine, codeine, and thebaine). Opioid is a broader term that also encompasses synthetic and semi-synthetic opioids (eg oxycodone, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, methadone, and tramadol).
PAMCC has extensive experience and knowledge addressing alcohol addiction. The gold standard treatment for alcohol use disorder is an FDA approved medicine called Naltrexone. It comes in both a daily oral formulation or monthly injection (Vivitrol). Other 2nd line agents include Acomprosate and Disulfiram.
Naltrexone medication works by blocking the brain’s endorphin receptors, indirectly limiting the release of dopamine after alcohol consumption. This can help individuals cut back on drinking because it makes drinking less pleasurable. As you take naltrexone over time, the brain’s association between alcohol and pleasure weakens, which allows alcohol cravings to subside. You don’t have to commit to abstinence in order to begin naltrexone treatment
No, this is not a magic pill that you take and everything is fixed. Alcohol use disorder is a complex disease that requires it be attacked from multiple different angles. While Naltrexone will help reduce alcohol cravings and stabilize the patient – rigorous counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and support meetings are necessary to address the biopsychosocial components of the disease. Additionally, compliance with scheduled doctor visits is essential for the highest chances of success and relapse prevention.