Center for Addiction Medicine & Recovery to Open February 29

The Menninger Clinic’s new Center for Addiction Medicine and Recovery opens February 29 and will serve adults seeking gold-standard, evidence-based addictions treatment and recovery services.

Specializing in providing patient-centered treatment for people experiencing primary substance use and process addiction, which may or may not be accompanied by mental health concerns, the Center is located on the second floor of the Outpatient Services Center on Menninger’s beautiful 50-acre campus located south of the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Meeting the Need for Addiction Treatment

The need for addiction treatment is growing; consider the fact that in 2022, 48 million Americans aged 12 or older (17%) had a substance use disorder during the past year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In fact, more than 20 million Americans ages 12 and over are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Furthermore, alcohol-related deaths have risen more than 25%, while drug overdose deaths have increased more than 50%, since 2019.

The Center for Addiction Medicine and Recovery allows Menninger to assist the growing number of people living with substance use disorders and addictions.

Both private pay and insurance-based treatment options are available at the Center, reducing barriers to care and allowing patients to access services that are personalized to their needs.

Under the leadership of Medical Director Daryl Shorter, MD, pictured above, the Center and its trainees are mobilizing with community partners to support the Houston-area's needs for treatment so people can get better and stay better by utilizing the wide range of services available.

Clinical Services

The Center's clinical services include:

Services for adults who are in treatment for substance use disorder or behavioral addictions, such as sex addiction, gambling, spending, or other behaviors that cause significant consequences; and wellness activities that contribute to recovery
Evidence-based treatments, including medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mentalization-based therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and medicine-based abstinence and harm-reduction programs
Recovery coaching services with certified peer recovery specialists who share their personal experiences in recovery to support and encourage others on their recovery journeys
Outpatient Addictions Assessments that use criteria from the American Society of Addiction Medicine to evaluate symptoms and inform treatment recommendations
Recovery Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), an intensive six- to eight-week program that integrates evidence-based and supportive therapies for substance use, addiction, and co-existing mental health conditions

Navigator, which provides collaborative case management, coaching, and peer support for adults in recovery for substance use, process addiction, and/or mental health disorders with the goal of reducing reoccurrence of substance use or a mental health crisis
A team of more than 25 faculty and employees, including addiction psychiatrists, licensed addictions counselors, and certified peer recovery specialists

Addictions Research and Training

Research into substance use disorders and behavioral addictions and the training of addictions professionals are also significant elements of the Center.

The Center’s clinical trials include a study by Kelly Truong, MD, addiction psychiatrist, who is testing a medication to improve insomnia and reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorder, and a study by Hyuntaek Oh, PhD, research scientist, who is exploring the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to treat opioid use disorder.

The Center also serves as a training site for mental health professionals specializing in addiction in partnership with Menninger’s academic affiliate Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions.

Getting Help for an Addiction

If you or a loved one needs treatment for an addiction or substance use disorder, we're happy to be a partner on the road to recovery. Call us today at 713-275-5400 to get started.