Opioid abuse disorder is a complex medical condition involving physiological, psychological, genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. There are many treatment methods, and patients often react differently to each. In the 70s, holistic medicine started gaining...
Last updated Sep 12, 2022 | Published on Sep 12, 2022
Suboxone is a pharmaceutical drug used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders (SUD), especially for opioids like heroin and painkillers. Its active ingredients are buprenorphine and naloxone. While Suboxone can be an excellent option for...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Sep 5, 2022
Suboxone is a popular brand name medication that consists of the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. It’s used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorder (SUD), especially for opioids like heroin and painkillers. However, MAT should...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Apr 7, 2022
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common medical problem affecting over 250 million people worldwide. Acupuncture has risen as a popular alternative therapy and effective treatment for AUD. Studies suggest acupuncture can effectively reduce alcohol intake, reduce...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Dec 10, 2021
The first step to recover from addictive drugs is often detox. Detox helps people wean their bodies and mind off drugs. However, when someone goes through the detox process, they’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms that can sometimes be dangerous. This is why...
Last updated Sep 8, 2021 | Published on Aug 24, 2021
Suboxone is a brand-name medication used in opioid substitution therapy, a specific subset of medication-assisted therapy (MAT). Evidence has shown that it can decrease rates of opioid overdose, increase rehab retention, and reduce the need for emergency detox. But as...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Apr 22, 2021
What is Medical Detox? Medical detox, also referred to as medically assisted detox, is the use of medication in a controlled and monitored environment to flush drugs from the body. It is also particularly useful in managing short-term drug withdrawal symptoms, which...
Last updated Jan 29, 2021 | Published on Jan 27, 2021
Have you ever spent days or weeks away from someone you typically see every day? Possibly a sibling, parent, or spouse. Did you start to miss them, wish you had them with you, and imagine the things about that person that bring you comfort? At first, the feelings seem...
Last updated Jun 23, 2022 | Published on Oct 19, 2020
The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy cannot be disputed, and it can be a major benefit if you think you may be struggling with a mental disorder.
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Sep 14, 2020
Whether it is because of kids, a pet, your job, financial reasons, or just wanting to get back to life, it is normal to want to know long drug rehab is. It is also normal for family members to wonder how long their loved one will be in a rehab facility or when they...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Apr 21, 2020
As the days pass by, the Coronavirus pandemic is still claiming the livelihood of many. Even those who aren’t showing symptoms live in uncertainty, wondering with each passing second if Corona will come for them or their loved ones. State and government regulations...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Nov 1, 2019
There are many holistic treatments available to help with your anxiety. Did you know that more than 18 percent of adults are affected by anxiety disorders each year in the United States? Anxiety is a common mental health disorder. There are different kinds of anxiety...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Jul 18, 2019
Buprenorphine is a common medication used as an opioid treatment. Those who receive addiction treatment for opioid addiction and abuse will often be encouraged to take this medication, which can ease withdrawal symptoms for a more comfortable recovery. This drug is...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Jun 28, 2019
What Are The Different Levels of Care? And, Why Are They Important? When looking for addiction treatment, you’ll come across different levels of care. Understanding the unique differences between each level of care will allow you to make a more informed decision on...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Mar 29, 2019
Dual diagnosis refers to a person that is suffering from substance use disorder in addition to an underlying psychiatric or mental health issue. While alcoholism and drug addiction are themselves mental disorders, many people that are experiencing addiction also have...
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.