CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based, trauma-informed behavioral health organization, has expanded the services at its counseling center in DeKalb County, adding services focused on medication assisted treatment (MAT) for patients with severe opioid disorders. The treatment includes help for those addicted to pain pills, heroin, fentanyl, and Kratom. Mental health professionals have found that when MAT is administered quickly the withdrawal symptoms decrease faster and more effectively. 

The new MAT services at the CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb, located at 3103 Clairmont Road, Suite B, will address the increased danger of synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. This is a pilot for a program that will potentially expand across metro Atlanta. 

“The increased usage of synthetic opioids spotlights the need for treatment using medications, including Buprenorphine (Suboxone), Naloxone, and Vivitrol, that can treat these drug disorders,” says Dr. Laura Bowman, Director of Recovery Services at CHRIS 180 and lead doctor at the CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb. “At the CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb, medication assisted treatment is combined with in-person support to assist with behaviors and emotions connected to substance misuse and addiction.” 

The new MAT services do not include providing prescription drugs on-site. Patients are written a prescription and sent to a pharmacy for that medication to be filled. Medications are also not administered on-site. 

This service is designed for patients who feel hopeless in their fight against their addiction. CHRIS 180 therapists use their expertise to treat each patient with compassion and dignity, realizing that clients with severe opioid use disorder are often physically ill and experiencing mental health issues.