Addiction

Dr. Larson found throughout his training in residency that those struggling with mood often also have contributing substance use disorders.

Substance use alters the brain’s chemistry and can significantly worsen one’s mood. Dr. Larson wanted to learn how to best treat patients struggling with substance use after residency training and therefore completed an additional year fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry in Cleveland, Ohio. Overcoming substance use is never easy and often difficult to manage alone. The chances of making a full recovery are greatly enhanced, however, when someone decides to get help. “Help” can be in the form of being detoxed in an inpatient setting, medications to help deter substance use, residential treatment or “rehabs”, intensive outpatient programs, and/or group/individual therapy.

Medication-Assisted Treatment or “MAT” is the use of medications to help those with substance dependency, such as with opioids or alcohol.

Examples include FDA-approved medications Suboxone, Sublocade, & Vivitrol. Dr. Larson specializes in helping patients with these types of medications that can help with the cravings to use substances and are therefore a deterrent to use. In most cases, they are taken on a daily basis for at least 6 months and occasionally for many years depending on the patient.


The patient is monitored on these medications to make sure dosing is correct and to also maximize the chances of staying in recovery. Sometimes this is all a patient needs to overcome their dependency to a substance, but the chances of staying in recovery are much higher when combined with a substance use program. Dr. Larson can assist those that need additional help by finding the right program in the area approved by their insurance. Occasionally, someone has a severe dependency to a substance that would be best treated with an inpatient detox program to avoid severe and often life-threatening withdrawals. If necessary, Dr. Larson can also help find a detox facility approved by their insurance.

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To make an appointment with us at Foundations Psychiatry, please fill out the form below, give us a call, or email us at admin@foundationspsychiatry.com. We will contact you by the end of the next business day and assist in scheduling an appointment for you. You can also contact us for any concerns or questions regarding your current or potential St. George psychiatry care at Foundations Psychiatry.

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