Practice Philosophy
Chemical Dependency is a devastating disease that directly affects 14% of our society. This is one disease that affects the entire family, 100% of the time. One out of three families is negatively impacted by this disease. It is a chronic disease that has no cure and it is a disease that is cancerous as it slowly destroys the mind, body and spirit of the addicted individual. Without effective intervention, marriages, families and lives will be destroyed by an insidious disease that has a slow but relentless progression.

The good news is that treatment is available; in fact, very good treatment is available that can take this disease into remission. Every individual has the potential for, and the right to recovery, but it takes work, determination and professional guidance to regain self-esteem, dignity and hope.

My goal for each patient is to attain a chemically-free lifestyle whenever possible. Unfortunately, in many ways our society tells us that there is a pill, powder or liquid for any discomfort we may experience - a "quick fix"! Certainly there are medical conditions that do require medications but even with these conditions, healthy lifestyle changes can eliminate the need for most medications. For the addict or alcoholic in recovery, using an addictive drug such as Xanax is the equivalent of suicide. Unfortunately, there are many "additionologists" who freely dispense mood-altering and highly addictive drugs, but I believe the short-term relief from such drugs comes at the cost of the patient's long-term success. In my practice, I look for viable, safe alternatives to addictive drugs.

By the time most people reach out for help, their alcohol or drug of choice has become the most important thing in their lives. I've often heard it said by patients that addiction is more powerful than love. Quitting is only a piece of the solution. The addict/alcoholic must replace their "best friend" with something else; otherwise, there is only a deep, dark and often hopeless void, where using again feels like the only option. The question that must be faced by the addicted individual is "How do we live in the real world and not use, but still experience peace, contentment and even happiness again?" Finding this solution is the key to successful recovery, and it is precisely this path that I offer, teach, live personally, and encourage each individual to pursue in their journey.

I believe, as does the AMA (American Medical Association) and the TMA (Texas Medical Association), that the most consistently proven method of quality recovery involves active participation in the fellowship or AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous). I believe in a spiritual recovery that encompasses a faith system but specifies no particular religions. As human beings, we have emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs and I believe we must attend to all of these in order to live fully and completely.

Recovery is about change, and with real change, there is always initial pain and discomfort. My personal experience and the experiences of my patients have demonstrated that for an addict, the rewards of recovery will ultimately far outweigh the challenges of the process.

My practice is unique in that I have personally been in recovery for almost 20 years, so I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities inherent in addiction. While I have studied medicine in general and addiction in particular for over 27 years, my real knowledge of addiction comes from personal experience and years of working closely with individuals and families seeking help with addiction.

I have no business relationship or interests with any specific treatment center. I do have professional affiliations (non-business and non-financial) with multiple hospitals and treatment centers across the country with proven reputations for quality. A list is provided under "Hospital/Treatment Center Affiliations". I have and always will refer each patient to a facility that is appropriate for the illness being treated and for their unique needs. The patient's preference will always be honored.

Finally, I believe successful treatment requires a partnership between the addicted individual and the treatment provider. This relationship must be built on trust, integrity, respect and mutual commitment. For that reason, I have chosen to manage my practice in such a way as to ensure that each patient will receive the personal attention and time necessary to successfully facilitate their recovery.