Addiction Medicine

Addiction is both a primary medical illness and a chronic behavioral health disorder that has several complex and interlocking causes. Today, leading experts in the field of Addiction Medicine recommend using multi-disciplinary approaches to recovery that emphasize long-term goals of abstinence

Dr. Lawrence Glass has been at the forefront of Addiction Medicine since 1986. His multi-level approach to addiction recovery addresses each patient's physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs. He does not rely on “intensive” treatments that often fail, but instead develops realistic and integrative long-term treatment plans based on each patient's unique set of circumstances. Dr. Glass recognizes that chemical dependence and substance abuse are medical illnesses that respond to different treatments for different individuals. His treatment and monitoring services include:

• Full Medical and Psychosocial Assessment
Health risk assessments and recovery plans take into account every person's genetic, physiological, psychological, familial, and social background.

• Outpatient Detoxification Services
These services are available for patients addicted to opiates, alcohol, benzodiazepines (valium and its derivatives), and other habit-forming drugs. They include:

• Buprenorphine Detoxification: In October 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two sublingual dosage strengths of buprenorphine (Subutex® and Suboxone®) for treating opiate dependence. Buprenorphine is one of the most promising interventions currently available for managing opioid dependency.
• Dr Glass is one of fewer than 200 physicians state-wide who are certified by the State of California and registered with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer sublingual buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®) in the treatment of opioid addictions.

• Other Supporting Medication
Patients receive prescription and OTC medications depending upon their individual needs

• Nutritional Support
Patients are given vitamin and other nutritional supplements, along with an achievable eating plan, to promote their recovery

• Counseling
Patients receive psychosocial support that motivates change and encourages them to comply with their outpatient detoxification program. Dr. Glass and his affiliate healthcare providers emphasize compassion, optimism, and responsibility in doctor-patient counseling sessions.

• Referrals to Healthcare Specialists
Patients may be referred to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, or other specialists, as appropriate.

• Complementary Therapies
Patients may be referred to outside healthcare providers in acupuncture, biofeedback, and other adjunctive healing modalities, as appropriate.

• Referrals to 12-step Programs
Patients are referred to group process programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous, depending upon their individual needs.

Many patients have multiple treatment needs in both recovery and pain management. Dr. Glass is well-poised to integrate the overlapping approaches of Addiction Medicine and Pain Medicine in designing individual programs for patients.. Dr. Glass is also a Clinical Professor at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. As a both a Preceptor and Clinical Professor, Dr. Glass has helped to interface core teaching materials in Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine that are used in educational courses for physicians and medical students.