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 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 Nov 24, 2020 | Published on Feb 22, 2019
What is the relationship between psychedelic drugs and mental health disorders? Over 30 million Americans abuse psychedelic drugs, like LSD, psilocybin and DMT. The majority of these users are abusing the drugs to trigger a psychedelic experience or hallucination....
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Feb 20, 2019
We recently broke down the AA Preamble into separate parts, noting that it was important to understand the text which begins every AA meeting. But the Preamble doesn’t technically begin every meeting. Both AA and NA meetings generally start with the Serenity Prayer....
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Feb 19, 2019
The target audience for “We Agnostics” is relatively easy to define. (aga7ta/Shutterstock) Groups such as AA and NA have many detractors, people who believe that they are religious organizations or even cults. This misconception extends to 12-based treatment centers,...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Jun 29, 2018
With more and more benzodiazepine prescriptions being written, more and more Americans are seeking Xanax addiction treatment. Non-adherence to a schedule or non-compliance to dosage can quickly lead to drug abuse. Xanax is, after all, a very potent and strong...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Jun 29, 2018
Eating disorders and substance use disorders often come hand in hand. Studies show that anywhere from 8% to 41% of drug abusers struggle with bulimia nervosa (BN). Another 2% to 10% of drug addicts struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN). Eating disorders are...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Jun 23, 2018
Rehab for alcoholism offers a wide variety of treatment options. There are plenty of components involved. Patients learn how to break both their physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. They go through different types of treatment options to achieve...
Last updated Nov 24, 2020 | Published on May 30, 2018
What Is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s derived from opium or the poppy plant. First synthesized in the 1960s, fentanyl and its analogues are some of the strongest opioids available today. These prescription drugs treat moderate to severe pain, like...
Last updated Apr 26, 2023 | Published on May 15, 2018
If you’re addicted to heroin or abusing it, you’ve probably wondered how long does heroin stay in your system for. Heroin is one of the most commonly abused drugs in America. Over 948,000 Americans abused this illicit drug in 2016. Studies show that these...
Last updated Jan 24, 2023 | Published on May 5, 2018
The most important decision in the addiction recovery process is the one to seek treatment, but it’s not the only decision that matters. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that no single treatment option is the right choice for all who need help, and it’s...
Last updated May 7, 2021 | Published on Apr 28, 2018
You might be asking yourself, why Florida? The answer is more simple than you think. It’s a beautiful place. It’s remote, the weather is nice and there are many things to do. It can be hard to distinguish the qualities between detox centers in Florida and figure out...
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 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...
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.