Recovery is a long journey that affects everyone a little differently. Learn more about what to expect and what resources are available to everyone involved.
Drug arrests are some of the most common law violations in America. This is no surprise considering America’s obvious war on drugs. Law enforcement agencies are kept busy infiltrating and looking for major drug rings. Some of these operations take years, while others...
The question is asked all the time. Is marijuana addictive? Many people argue over this, including marijuana users themselves. While some say marijuana is addictive and others do not, one thing that is certain is that marijuana can form a physical dependence. While 9%...
There is a famous Rolling Stones song from 1969 entitled “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Regardless of your age, you’ve likely heard the song at one point or another. The basic point is evident in the premise, which is that we often yearn for certain things that...
We’re a couple of days into 2016, and it’s hopefully been going well for you so far. It can be difficult adjusting a new year with new challenges, but the good news is that you get to start with a clean slate. Everything that went wrong last year should provide you...
It’s New Year’s Eve, a day which has become symbolic as a time for putting the past to rest and ringing in a year of change and personal evolution. As we ring in the New Year, we are meant to look back and reflect as we assess the highs and lows of the year that is...
Christmas just ended, and people all over the nation are still loosening their belts a little bit from their most recent night of feasting and conviviality. Those who managed to stay sober over the holidays are hopefully showing a bit of gratitude for the feat they...
A key component to living a healthy, drug-free life is willingness. This sentiment is perhaps best expressed in this line from the fifth chapter of the AA Big Book: “If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it—then you are...
This weekend, people all over the world were excited for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens after so many years away from the franchise. We thought that it might be fun to publish an article relating to the film in some way, when we realized that the...
The holiday season is currently upon us, which means that people all over the nation are learning to cultivate a spirit of giving as a means of spreading holiday cheer. But for every person to whom the holiday spirit comes naturally, there is another who is...
If you’ve ever seen the hit comedy series Parks and Recreation, then you might be familiar with the concept of taking a “treat yo’ self” day. Many fans of the series latched onto the idea as a great way of taking a break from life every once in a while to do the...
“Do you see how an act is not, as young men think, like a rock that one picks up and throws, and it hits or misses, and that’s the end of it. When that rock is lifted, the earth is lighter; the hand that bears it heavier. When it is thrown, the circuits of the stars...
When we recently covered the disease model of addiction, we noted that many addicts and alcoholics indulge in substance abuse as a means of filling a spiritual void. Of course, it never really works. If filling the void were really as easy as doing some shots or...
We recently discussed advice on dating in recovery, noting at the time that some of our advice would be subject to differ depending upon the personality types of the people involved. While we gave some broad examples of various personality types, we did not go into...
People have some widely differing opinions on the issue of dating in recovery. The common belief, however, is that those who are recovering from addiction and alcoholism should not date within the first year. We’ve briefly mentioned this rule before, in our article on...
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.
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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.