In the US alone, over 140,000 people die from excessive alcohol use – 380 deaths per day. In 2020, opioid-related deaths only surpassed alcohol deaths by seven percent. These numbers place alcohol as the third-leading preventable cause of death in the country. Let’s...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Aug 12, 2022
After a night of drinking, it can be tempting to grab your car keys and head home. However, alcohol affects your driving ability, even when you think you can handle it. Driving requires concentration and attention to details around you, 2 things that are impaired by...
Last updated Apr 25, 2023 | Published on Aug 5, 2022
It’s no secret that alcohol can cause you to stop breathing, but did you know it may also be linked to sleep apnea? When you drink alcohol, it causes your body to release chemicals that inhibit the respiratory centers of your brain. This means that your breathing...
Last updated Apr 28, 2023 | Published on Dec 31, 2020
Despite being a legal substance, alcohol is very much a drug—and one that has very real and potentially fatal consequences. Alcohol poisoning is the most severe side effect of intoxication that can occur. The CDC estimates that it results in an average of 2,200 deaths...
Last updated Apr 25, 2023 | Published on Dec 23, 2020
The weather outside may be frightful but it isn’t the only reason that driving during the holidays can be so dangerous. Since 1981, every president has declared December to be National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. And it’s no accident that the “happiest time of...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Nov 11, 2020
When is it necessary to get help with alcoholism? In the beginning stages of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), most people can conceal their drinking from others. These individuals effectively live two lives. In many cases, they can maintain this separation for months or...
Last updated Nov 24, 2020 | Published on Oct 13, 2020
When some struggling with addiction stops their addictive behaviors, they can anticipate an array of physical, psychological, and emotional changes. The days and weeks after stopping an addictive behavior are referred to as a detox period. Alcohol addiction,...
Last updated Nov 24, 2020 | Published on Sep 28, 2020
If you or a loved one is giving up alcohol, you may be wondering what to expect. In order to prepare mentally and physically, you all may be wondering how long alcohol withdrawal lasts. This is a reasonable question to ask, but a bit of a complex one to answer. The...
Last updated Apr 5, 2021 | Published on Sep 7, 2020
1. How To Treat Alcohol Poisoning At Home Alcohol poisoning should not be treated at home, plain and simple. In the event that someone shows signs of alcohol poisoning, getting them immediate medical attention is critical. However, if they begin to vomit, preventing...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Aug 27, 2020
A highly addictive substance, alcohol recovery may include the use of pharmaceutical treatments. Medications can help reduce relapse rates by either satisfying or preventing the cravings of alcohol detox. Some pharmaceutical treatments for alcohol addiction have been...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Jan 24, 2020
A great many people are no strangers to the impact of alcohol on their bodies. There are plenty of people who are treated at our facilities that have experienced alcohol abuse. At Amethyst, we are committed to providing those people with treatment that suits their...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Aug 30, 2019
What Classifies As Depression? There is still a lot of misinformation regarding what is and what isn't depression. Because of this, many people suffering from a depressive disorder might never be diagnosed, which is an issue as bad as it would be with any illness that...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Aug 8, 2019
Alcohol recovery body changes are one of the key stumbling blocks on the path to sobriety. Non-alcoholics often wonder why recovery is so difficult. And coming from individuals who haven’t gone through this process, one can understand their need to think it is simpler...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Aug 8, 2019
Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts Approximately 16 million Americans struggled with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2015 Delirium tremens is one of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms, with a 5% to 25% mortality rate An estimated 88,000 Americans die from...
Last updated Apr 26, 2023 | Published on Jul 25, 2019
What Are the Effects of Alcoholism in the Workplace? When we think about alcoholism and its effects, we often think about how close family members and loved ones are affected. There are other areas where alcoholism can take its toll, however. This includes the...
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.
Laurel, 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 Rodriguez
Director of Human Resources
Brie 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 BAIZA
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Cori’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 GAU
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
John’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 GUDIM
DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES
Mark’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.
Medical Director, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine
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.
Call our 24/7 helpline now to speak with an admission specialist.
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER
Amanda 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.