Addiction is a disease, but it is so much more. Learn more about this complex condition that millions of Americans are struggling with right now.
Recovery can be a challenging journey—and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. Luckily, there are many people who have walked the road ahead, and those kind souls offer their experience and support to those of us who are following behind. Those who have been in...
Many recovering addicts will often notice that they have a lot of free time on their hands. Instead of obsessing over, using, or getting over the use of drugs or alcohol, these individuals now have nothing to do. If they don’t fill in their spare time with a hobby,...
Addiction treatment is a confusing time in a person’s life. As a new patient attempts to organize themselves and come to grips with their surroundings, they may find themselves wondering how they got there in the first place. When did life get so out of hand? When did...
A little while back, we wrote an article on famous people in recovery in which we mentioned a number of athletes. One of the most prominent names on this list was Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. Many knew that he had smoked marijuana and that he had experienced a...
Every once in a while, those who attend 12-step meetings may hear someone open a share by giving their sobriety date. There are men and women the world over who will not begin a share in AA or NA without mentioning this date, as it is one of the dates held dearest...
Many filmgoers, whether fans of the Batman comics or not, consider Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight to be one of the greatest portrayals of a cinematic villain in the history of film. He completely embodies the theme of chaos, transforming a...
It is no major secret that drugs and alcohol have a tendency to lower our inhibitions. In fact, many people use this very fact as a justification for their substance abuse. We drink and do drugs because we are “too shy” or “no fun” without them. Of course, this...
Addiction recovery is a lifelong struggle. Some people won’t tell you that, but it’s absolutely true. Those of us who have underestimated the strength of our addiction in the past would give just about anything to turn back the clock in time to learn this...
One of the major issues that we have discussed at great length in some of our recent articles is the need for more people to understand the nature of addiction, so that the stigma against addiction and those who suffer from this disease may finally be put to rest. The...
The first UNITE to Face Addiction rally was this past weekend, and we recently talked about some of the brilliant musical performances in our article on music therapy for addiction. But we came to realize that the music itself was not the most moving thing about the...
We’ve talked a bit about addiction statistics before, such as our discussion of recidivism rates for addicts with legal issues. We also mentioned some basic demographic trends in our article on addict personality myths. But we’ve never really dedicated an article to...
In the 1969 book On Death and Dying, Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross outlines five stages of grief that terminally ill patients must go through before they can begin to accept their fate. Less than fifty years have passed since this book was published, yet...
Ropes courses are among the popular forms of adventure therapy. (Allen Eyestone/Palm Beach Post) It is a commonly known fact that rehabilitation centers offer therapy to those who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, so that they may face their inner demons and...
Ronda Rousey has been in the news quite a bit recently, due to an astounding victory over opponent Bethe Correia that allowed her to win the UFC 190 title fight in a mere 34 seconds. But her amazingly brief victory isn’t the only impressive thing she’s done this year....
sober.
Whether you or your family member is struggling with addiction, you are not alone in this journey. Explore our expansive addiction resources, including our guides for teens, parents, and spouses, as well as relatable recovery stories from Amethyst Alumni.
Call our 24/7 helpline to speak with an admissions cordinators and get the support you need when you need it.
Laurel McGinnisLaurel, as the Director of Corporate Compliance for USR, is responsible for ensuring that the facility follows all federal and state regulatory requirements, accreditation standards and industry best practices. Laurel has over twenty years’ experience in legal and regulatory affairs in both the public and private sectors. She attended the University of Kansas where she studied political science, and she is designated by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) as a Certified National Investigator and Inspector (CNII). Prior to joining Amethyst, she served as the Director of Enforcement for a state regulatory body.
Brie RodriguezBrie joined the Amethyst Recovery team in 2017 as an HR assistant. Her over 15 years’ experience working in healthcare administration and management quickly launched her into a leadership role. Now serving as the Director of Human Resources since 2018, she leads our organization through the intricate requirements of recordkeeping, recruitment, staff development as well as compliance. While also directing all aspects of HR including payroll, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as licensing and accreditation standards.
Brie graduated as a high school valedictorian with a major in Health Technologies and continued her studies at Springfield Technical Community College with a focus on healthcare. She served in Operations and HR for a finance company for ten years, before returning to healthcare and eventually arriving at USR.
Brie works closely with the leadership team to develop and implement effective HR strategies that support our organization’s goals and values. As an HR professional, Brie’s primary focus is on ensuring that our organization attracts and retains the most talented and qualified individuals to help us fulfill our mission of providing compassionate care to those struggling with addiction. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those working in the substance abuse field, Brie is committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of others.
Brie is known for being compassionate and empathetic as well as for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive situations and find solutions that benefit everyone involved. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and their fur babies!
CORI BAIZACori’s key responsibilities include supervising financial operations, and daily financial reporting and account management. Cori’s goal is to ensure all patient’s needs are met in an accurate and timely manner. She is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator with The Florida Certification Board and licensed Notary Public in the state of Florida. Her experience includes accounting and finance training.
JOHN GAUJohn’s key responsibilities include maintaining the day-to-day operations from both a clinical and housing perspective. John’s goal is to monitor every department to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place and client care is carried out effortlessly. John joined Amethyst as a behavioral health technician where he quickly developed strong personal relationships with the clients through support and guidance. John understands first hand the struggles of addiction and strives to provide a safe environment for clients. John is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator.
MARK GUDIMMark’s key responsibilities include handling day-to-day maintenance matters and oversees our Environment of Care management plan in conjunction with Joint Commission and DCF regulations. Mark’s goal is to provide a safe environment where distractions are minimized, and treatment is the primary focus for clients and staff alike. Mark received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is a licensed residential home inspector in the state of Florida and relates his unique experience of analyzing a property and/or housing condition to determining any necessary course of action at our facility.
Jeffrey M. Bishop, D.O.Dr. Jeffer M. Bishop was born and raised in Florida. He joined the U.S. Navy while attending the University of Nebraska for this undergraduate degree in Medicine. When he left the Navy, he went on to graduate from e Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985.
He worked in Family Medicine for 35 years before retiring from his practice. He then went on to be the Chief Medical Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center for an additional seven years until resigning from his position in 2013 and started Addiction Medicine.
He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-APAmanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society.