National Recovery Month: Celebrating Strength and Community
Every September, we observe National Recovery Month, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to raise awareness and educate people about substance use disorders and the many treatment options available to them. It is also a time to celebrate the advances made in addiction treatment, and ...
Get to Know Spectrum Health Systems’ Internship Program
Since Spectrum Health Systems’ internship program was founded nearly a decade ago, it has continued to grow and expand its relationships with local Massachusetts colleges and universities while giving students incredibly valuable hands-on experience to prepare for careers in the clinical field. We talked with the director of the program ...
An Inside Look at Spectrum Health Systems’ Young Adult Program
Young adulthood is supposed to be a time for fun, finding yourself, and a (relatively) carefree lifestyle. However, one-third of young adults in the U.S. are struggling with addiction and mental illness. In fact, one-in-ten young adults between the age of 18 and 25 have an alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and ...
Client Spotlight: Lou Falcon – Spectrum’s Short-Term Transitional Housing Support Program
Detox, rehabilitation, and other inpatient treatment programs offer strong support and guidance at a time when people need it most. What many people don’t realize is that being ready to leave rehab doesn’t necessarily mean that they are ready to fully reintegrate into society immediately afterward. Leaving the structure and ...
Spectrum in the News: WCVB Profiles COVID-19 Unit
As the COVID-19 pandemic reached Massachusetts, the need for addiction treatment was greater than ever. We sprang into action and, in April, opened a segregated COVID-19 unit specialized for clients undergoing detoxification for drug and/or alcohol addiction who have also tested positive for COVID-19. Recently, the unit was featured on ...
Meet Our New Board Chair: Q&A with Andrew Salmon
Earlier this year we announced Andrew Salmon's appointment to Board Chair. We recently sat down with Andrew to get to know him better and learn about his perspectives on Spectrum as well as his vision for the future. What brought you to Spectrum Health Systems? Spectrum's former CEO Chuck Faris ...
Q&A with Stacy Desnoyers, Program Director of Spectrum Health Systems’ Medication-Assisted Treatment Reentry Initiative
Throughout all of our programs, Spectrum Health Systems has a strong and tightknit workforce. This is especially true for our Recovery Support Navigators, who work directly with inmates as they break through the walls of drug and alcohol addiction and reclaim their lives. Program Director, Stacy Desnoyers, opens up about ...
How We Work with Milford Regional Medical Center to Provide Rapid Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment
People seeking addiction treatment often face barriers to obtaining the help they need, including a simple lack of knowledge about where to go and what treatment options are available. Many find themselves at emergency rooms, and while sometimes this is necessary, it is always better to seek help from addiction ...
Spectrum Celebrates Inaugural Nurse of the Year Awards
2020 has been a whirlwind for all of us, but especially for nurses. In recognition of the incredible work nurses do – and in honor of the 200th anniversary of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale – the World Health Organization has declared 2020 as the International Year of ...
We’re Now Accepting Medicare Part B for Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment
For 51 years, Spectrum Health Systems has worked tirelessly to provide state-of-the-art, modern, and effective treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Today, we are excited to announce that Spectrum’s opiate treatment programs (OTPs) now accept Medicare Part B insurance. “Opioid addiction has impacted every community, which is why it’s so ...
Employee Spotlight: Meet Our Inpatient Nursing Supervisor, Kelly Field
Our nursing staff is at the heart of treatment here at Spectrum, always going above and beyond to care for clients, run programs, and respond to emergencies. In celebration of National Nurses Month, we’re highlighting Kelly Field, the Inpatient Nursing Supervisor at our Westborough, Massachusetts campus, to get a closer ...
Slipping into Alcoholism: The Importance of Monitoring Your Intake During COVID-19
We’ve been talking a lot about the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic: the frustration of not being able to go out, the difficulty in trying to get certain items, and the simple boredom of being trapped inside day after day. But what we haven’t talked about is the fear and ...
How Spectrum’s Peer Recovery Centers Have Adapted to COVID-19
One of the most important tools for addiction recovery are support group sessions, where people can come together to work through their problems with others in similar situations. Many individuals in recovery rely on peer recovery centers for ongoing support and help in maintaining their recovery. Even after being forced ...
We’re Here for You: How Spectrum Health Systems Is Continuing Treatment Amid COVID-19
When the novel coronavirus hit the nation, our everyday lives were turned upside down – and for good reason. All of us hold a responsibility to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and only leaving the house for essential reasons. A service that remains ...
A Message to Clients Regarding Spectrum’s Response to COVID-19
At Spectrum Health Systems, the health and well-being of our clients and staff is our top priority. In light of the current public health crisis, we are taking every measure possible to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure.