An alcoholic bender is a period of time during which an individual engages in excessive alcohol consumption and experiences associated negative consequences. In the context of alcoholism and other substance use disorders, it is often used to refer to periods during...
Last updated Jun 8, 2022 | Published on Jun 8, 2022
Drinking alcohol can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels, which can cause you to develop diabetes. Studies have found that people who drink more than four drinks a day are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Alcohol can cause fluctuations in...
Last updated Apr 15, 2022 | Published on Apr 15, 2022
Alcoholism is a serious mental health issue, and while excessive drinking can cause anger and aggressive outbursts, there's more to it. Alcohol is a depressant that impairs your brain’s ability to process information properly. When you're drunk, you're less able to...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Jul 16, 2019
The Effects of Alcoholism on Children When you’re a child, every component of your psychological and mental health and well-being are in the developmental stages. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, millions of children grow up in...
Last updated Apr 26, 2023 | Published on Feb 10, 2019
The second chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous (commonly known as the Big Book) is titled “There Is a Solution” which talks a lot about the nature of alcoholism itself. Even so, AA founder Bill Wilson could not have covered everything there is to say about the alcoholic’s...
Last updated Jun 15, 2023 | Published on Jun 1, 2018
We’ve all heard about it. You might have even seen a loved one go through it. We’ve all been warned of how dangerous the effects are, but what really is alcohol poisoning? We know the effects of alcohol on the body after a few drinks. What happens when a person...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on May 21, 2018
Oxycodone and alcohol are a deadly combo. In terms of polydrug use, they’re perhaps two of the worst illicit substances that you can use at the same time. Both substances tend to enhance the effects of the other; as a result, it increases the risk of overdoses. Side...
Last updated Apr 25, 2023 | Published on Mar 29, 2018
There’s a difference between an effective alcohol program and an ineffective one. Effective programs are more likely to succeed and come with certain traits. Knowing what to look for is half the battle. Alcohol addiction in running rampant in...
Last updated Aug 28, 2023 | Published on Mar 26, 2018
More and more Americans need alcohol drug detox. A new study found that 25% of Americans under the age of 30 are alcoholics. While alcohol drug detox is the first step to getting sober, many other treatment plans can also make a difference. Most alcohol abusers find...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Mar 22, 2018
Alcohol Detox Counselors Help With Quitting Drugs And Alcohol Fighting the deadly disease of alcoholism and drug addiction can be an uphill battle. Sometimes it takes several visits to treatment centers, alcohol rehabs, hospitals, and other treatment options to fully...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Mar 9, 2018
Alcohol detox is one of the first steps to recovery. It makes it easier to manage a drug addiction, and also curbs cravings, so the recovery process becomes smoother. The detox process can control mood swings and also lessen the intensity of alcohol withdrawals. It...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Nov 14, 2016
Non-alcoholic beer smells and tastes like the real thing, just without the alcohol content. Seems like the perfect solution for someone trying to recover from alcohol addiction...right? This topic is actually one of high contention within the recovery community. One...
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.