Community Perspectives

Opioid Addiction Has Serious Effects On The Health of You and Your Baby Pregnancy can be a special time, full of joy and anticipation. But for women struggling with an addiction to fentanyl or other opioids, it can be difficult and stressful. Every woman wants to be a good mother and do everything she can […]

Addiction is a very powerful thing. Opioid addiction is even more so. The opioid addiction epidemic has been sweeping our nation for years now. During this time, medical experts have banded together to devise new and better ways to treat patients suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). Methadone has long been a tried and true […]

For years, Community Medical Services has encountered a common problem at all of our clinics: The required starting dose of methadone (30 mg) to treat opioid withdrawal just isn’t enough for many patients. Methadone is a powerful part of medication-assisted treatment programs (MATs). It blocks receptors in the brain that opioids typically latch onto, easing […]

For those struggling with opioid addictions, the most challenging part of treatment is dealing with withdrawal symptoms. The process of readjusting the body to life without opioids can be almost unbearable for some. Luckily, there’s a way to minimize withdrawal symptoms while eliminating cravings. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the process of giving patients FDA-approved medications […]

One of the most significant hurdles preventing the treatment of many substance use disorders is withdrawal. Many people who have never had a substance abuse problem don’t understand that “quitting cold turkey” isn’t a viable option. Aside from feeling awful, withdrawal can cause many other issues, making it nearly impossible for a person to function. […]

The opioid crisis has emerged as one of the United States’ most pressing healthcare challenges. Every person with an opioid addiction has a story about getting where they are. All these people have one thing in common – they never expected to become an addict. For many, opioid addiction is sudden. Sure, you are aware […]

The Harsh Reality of Opioid Addiction Last year, over 50,000 people died in the United States because of overdosing on opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. If you have opioid use disorder, there is a 4% chance that you will die within a year. If left untreated, you have a 40% chance of not making it […]

CMS advises community on what to watch for and how to respond. Fentanyl use is on the rise, and it’s now being mixed with xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer. While fentanyl alone continues to be the cause of fatal overdoses at an alarming rate, there’s been an even greater surge in overdose deaths recently, causing […]

How CMS is Moving the Needle in the Community The program launched in the fall of 2022 and provides inmates medication assisted treatment (MAT) combined with counseling and behavioral therapy for those suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs). The program is strictly voluntary but has had a significant impact after just a few months, according to […]

“Take even a small amount of fentanyl and you could die.” It’s a harsh message, but one that John Koch, director of community engagement at Community Medical Services (CMS), is determined to get out in the community as deaths from fentanyl use continue to climb around the U.S. “All of a sudden, what used to be a […]