Testimonies of Patients
Patient Testimonies: For some time, we have seen so many come through the office the first time for what is called an "Intake Assessment" only to have them bail on us and not come back. This has become the normal "merry-go-round" in today's outpatient addiction treatment circles (literally), because most who seek "help" only seek the detox drug called "Suboxone" and not any real program help that should go with that detox drug. This makes it "just another drug deal" basically - the first time anyone enters an outpatient "treatment" center - which fails to work to relieve ADDICTION almost 100% of the time. So, what's a treatment center to do when the addict demands "just drug treatment" and not what actually works to treat ADDICTION (which involves real work on both the ADDICTS and the treatment center's parts, by the way)? Answer: "It's about a Program - not just Pills"! "More Pills - you do not need, Mr. or Ms. Addict". And when the pattern of today's "merry-go-round" of outpatient (pills only) "treatment" begins to fail for so many (as it has begun to do today), then some will look for real help that is good and thorough (with their deadly illness, called ADDICTION)...and we can resume our attempted thorough help with those who dare to go into and through a real recovery "program"...and not just take "more pills" (called Suboxone - only). Apparently, this time has now come. See our newer "Testimonies" of those who now enter our program (about 1 in 20) with serious intent to actually properly treat their ADDICTIONS.
Outpatient Drug Detox Testimonies - after just one to several visits
10.3.11 "The first thing that had to happen or did happen was my whole world pretty much came down around me. My parants put me out & took my kids, which led to extreme drug use and homelessness. I was blessed with desperation and lots of it! I asked for help. I called Treatment Centers and Doctos. Money was a issue. I didn't have $30,000. Decided to try this [at Dr. Smith's outpatient program] and give it all I got. I knew I had to change my integrity. Honesty is a big deal and I cound never be honest about any thing. So since doing this I've been willing to be Honest. You know since I'm not going where I shouldn't go and doing things I shouldn't do, being hoonest has actually been a lot easier. I'm willing to believe in a Power Greater than myself and I chose to believe this Power loves me and wants me to be clear.
Today I'm a better man, father, worker, son and brother. I'm gratewful to be alive and to have been given a second chance."
Mother of "early recovery" patient above:
8.19.11 Intake Assessment for New Addict Patient entering PROGRAM care for his ADDICTION with MD Interventionist:
"This really would be the first time out of my third attempt that I feel that I really have a chance to beat my addiction. You were more informattable [i.e. thorough] in the first visit than the others were the whole time I was there! Thank you so much for your info & time."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________the old crowd:
My name is Wade and I am an addict. I have struggled with chemical dependency for the better part of the last decade. If there were drugs available, what kind was irrelevant, I used them. I spent all of my time and money looking for, using, or withdrawing from drugs. Many things that mattered to me fell victim to my insane behavior. I got fired or quit from several well paying jobs. I caused irreparable damage to almost all of my relationships. I have either sold or destroyed nearly all of my material possessions. Most importantly, however, I lost time. Time has the unique quality of being irreplaceable. Once it is gone, no amount of hard work, apologies, or money can bring it back. It took every bit of this for me to hit my bottom.
I was arrested for the sale of a legend narcotic in the parking lot of a local gentlemen’s club. I think that descriptor is stupid; there are no gentlemen in a place like that. After I posted bond, I realized that I could quite possibly spend a great amount of time in jail. This caused me to start taking my own personal inventory. I began to realize that my life had completely fallen apart. I did not know how I had gotten there or how I could get out. I could not have known it at the time, but I was working the first step. In utter desperation, I began to seek help.
I went to a men’s shelter in Georgia. After I came home, I relapsed. I entered a suboxone program that did not require its participants to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Again, I relapsed. It was only after I came to see Dr. Smith that I realized there was only one way out of this mess alive. You see, after long term abuse of opiates, your brain chemistry and body are severely damaged. It takes several months for it to repair itself. Suboxone allows us to go about our daily lives, take care of our families, and hold down jobs, while we begin to work a program. Suboxone is not a cure, and alone, it will not make you well.
All of this was made perfectly clear to me at my first appointment. Go to meetings. Get a sponsor. Work the steps. Study the principles. Apply them to your life.Without every single one of these, your recovery is in jeopardy. If you want to get better, if you want your life back, and if you are ready to surrender, you have come to the right place. You must be willing to do whatever it takes to get better.
Life without the use of drugs is possible. If you do not believe me, go to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and ask someone else. Life without drugs can be fun and exciting and scary, but it is still life. I had a chance at freedom, so do you. Take that chance as I did and experience what you Higher Power has in store for you.Thank you for letting me share. God bless you.
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by Debra
08/12/2010
I just want to say thank you Dr. Smith for your professionalism and your caring spirit. I have never met a doctor who cares more for his patients than you. I also want to thank you for introducing me to Shazaam - this is a miracle vitamin - I wish everyone could know how much this vitamin can do for you. I am at a computer all day long at my job and I have had tendonitis for years now and after finally getting an appointment with an orthopedic doctor and spending half a day there, he had treated me with a steroid shot and some VERY expensive cream to put on my arm. When you told me that a simple vitamin like Shazaam would help with the tendonitis and that you would give me my money back if it didn't work, I really thought I'd be coming back to you with my hand out for the refund but dang it, IT WORKED! That stuff is amazing. Plus as an added bonus, it helped me sleep better and gave me more energy! Thank you so much, and thanks for caring, listening and spending time with your patients!
When I was asked to write a paragraph about the TANG Detox. Program, the first thing that came to my mind was LIFE. This program saved my life. No only my life, but my marriage, my family and my job. Let's face it, addicts are needy people, we need help. I have tried it the hard way and I've tried it with this program and believe me, this program is definitely an "easier, softer way". I could use a lot of fancy words and quote from the literature, but let me just put this in words that actually mean something right now. If you have ever been through withdrawals you know how bad it is. Suboxone eases these withdrawals so you are able to concentrate on putting your life back together. It is almost next to impossible to work when you are in withdrawals. Not many jobs would tolerate the tardiness, absenteeism, all that comes along with the withdrawal symptoms which I can only describe as the worse flu symptoms you could ever have with a stomach virus added on. Usually we don't even get through the withdrawals because they are so bad, we give in. If you do not have to go through this, you will be able to attend meetings, get a sponsor and get into the literature with NA. This is the foundation that you need to stay clean and sober but sometimes it's hard to get up the energy just to find a meeting, let alone sit through one. This is not a "quick fix" it is a pathway to getting your life back; and I don't know about you, but that's what I want!
D. 2009
This program saved my life. No only my life, but my marriage, my family and my job.
If you are here at Dr. Smith’s office reading this today, this is most likely some if the best thinking you have done recently if your anything like I was. The SUBOXONE and the PROGRAM are working great for me! I’m working on 50 plus days at being clean and sober. This is the longest time I’ve been clean in years and I truly believe I couldn’t have done it without this program. I was unsure about Dr. Smith and his program when I just walked through the door. I was leery of all the “SECURITY MEASURES” and the fact that he deals strictly in cash. I wondered if he was a Quack and I was going to get ripped off. But I knew my life was out of control and that I needed help; here I was on Christmas Eve going through withdraws and at that point this program was my last option. I am thankful today to have made this choice! Going to an Inpatient treatment center was not an option for me, not only was it way too costly, I couldn’t be out of work for 4 weeks or more. Yes, this program is costly too! But it has been money well spent, and compared to what I was paying for my drugs in a one month period, I was probably close to breaking even on that point alone! But this program has brought me so much more [than using drugs ever did]! The happiness and peace of mind I’m starting to get along with the chance I now have to work on relationships with loved ones – that I totally screwed up. These are things my new Recovery has brought to me and my family that I can’t put a price on. Life still has its up and downs but at least today I can deal with life without being enslaved to my addiction and it being the most important thing in my life. Before I got in this program I didn’t even have a choice of whether or not to use drugs. I had to use or I would be sick from withdraws. Today I have a choice and I choose not to use drugs….and it feels great! I would be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you have. If Dr. Smith thinks it is appropriate, I give him permission to give my phone number to anyone wanting to hear from someone who’s been where I have (and you are now) – if you need reassurance that Dr. Smith’s outpatient program of Recovery is the thing to do today! Just do the Program! Get the help you need. Don’t wait!
Good Luck
D.O.
Before I got in this program I didn’t even have a choice of whether or not to use drugs. I had to use or I would be sick from withdraws. Today I have a choice and I choose not to use drugs….and it feels great!
My life began to fall apart just nine months ago when I began taking OXYCONTIN to sleep. Slowly, no quickly, I progressed to crushing oxy’s and doing up to 3 – 400 mg a day. I was numbing the pain and pressures of being a single mother desperately wanting to chase my dreams of continuing my education while at the same time handling all of the responsibilities of mommy as well as daddy at home. Then on June 11th 2005 I had a friend over for dinner and had a drug induced seizure in front of my 4 yr old daughter who told my father and her grandfather that mommy had died. All the years I had prided myself on being a great mother – well for nine months I was not. Dealing with this harsh reality was one of the hardest things a parent could possibly go through. It was time to get help - but inpatient care costs around $8000.00 not to mention having to figure out what to do about child care. This just wasn’t an option. I was referred to Dr. Bryan Smith for Outpatient detox at first I was skeptical and thought “ boy” this is expensive but the experience has been unbelievable . First of all – detox is not cheap but Dr. smith is a heck of a lot cheaper than just about any program out there, and I get one on one attention at every visit. I can talk about anything I need to talk about without fretting over confidentially issues – not to mention I know if I need to get in touch with my Dr. he’s only a phone call away at any time. I have received excellent medical care as well as a personal connection with someone who clearly cares about my success and well being. For anyone seeking safe effective detox options, Dr. Smith is the answer. With his help I am getting my life back, truly, the best HIGH in the world. Words could never express my gratitude to Dr. Smith – Doctor at your Door.
Thanks
L.G.
I have received excellent medical care as well as a personal connection with someone who clearly cares about my success and well being.
"I'm Mark and I'm an addict."
Those words are much easier to say now that I have been completely clean and sober for 79 days, thanks to Dr. Smith and Teanna. I was at the end of my rope. I had lied, cheated, stole, betrayed myself and everybody that loves me. I was about to lose everything until I found Dr. Smith. I was a little nervous about joining the program and how everything would turn out, mainly because I didn't trust myself and knew I wasn't strong enough to succeed. But Dr. Smith and Teanna made it easy. I got my life back! They were very welcoming, supporting, and straight to the point; they leave nothing up in the air to wonder or worry about. They've done this so many times before - they know answers to questions I didn't even know I had. All you have to do is trust them completely and just follow the program which is easy. If you do, get ready for the best days of your life! Since before you ever tried drugs. I have not felt this good since I was a teenager. I've got my family back. My relationship with my great, beautiful, supportive fiance' IS perfect and better than I ever thought it could be. I promise that you couldn't make a better decision than to start Dr. Smith's (outpatient) recovery program. It has changed not only my life but the lives of everybody I come in contact with. Teanna is very friendly, and even helped me try to find a job. She and Dr. Smith are great friends and the best thing that ever happened to me. I am so thankful to them for saving and giving me back my life!
Mark ( a recovering addict)
