Substance Use Disorder Treatments

Substance use disorders are serious health conditions. In recent years, they have increased in American communities. This is especially true for East Tennessee and other communities in Southern Appalachia. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses have led to over 100,000 deaths annually since 2020. Cherokee Health Systems (CHS) offers a number of services that help people live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Provided by our professional staff of physicians, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and other health staff, treatments for addiction conditions at CHS include the options below.

Integrated Care for Substance Use Disorders:

This model of advanced primary and behavioral health care includes specialized services for substance use disorders, support for the development and maintenance of a sober lifestyle, case management services, as well as linkage with primary care for ongoing conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, COPD). In addition, specialized pre-natal, post-partum, and pediatric care for pregnant women dependent on opiates and their newborns is a critical component of the continuum of enriched health services provided by this initiative.

Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS):

CPRS and TN Recovery Navigators utilize their lived experience in recovery to support, intervene, and advocate for individuals with substance use disorders. At CHS, they are members of the addiction medicine team and respond to the local emergency departments to help individuals who have recently overdosed access treatment. CPRS co-facilitate our groups, help people develop action plans for coping in recovery, and assist with accessing higher levels of care (e.g., detox, inpatient, residential, and sober living environments). 

Extended Outpatient Program (EOP):

EOP is outpatient group therapy for adults with alcohol and drug addiction disorders. The EOP curriculum is comprehensive and based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivation enhancement therapy, and family systems theory. EOP patients have access to not only the EOP group but also individual behavioral health visits and other behavioral health treatment groups including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Distress Tolerance Group, Bereavement Group, and various social support groups.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT):

MAT is a powerful tool used by CHS’ addiction medicine staff to treat patients suffering from addiction to alcohol and opioids. The medications used at CHS are safe for the vast majority of people, are FDA-approved, and when used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, provide many patients the best opportunity to achieve a sustained and healthy recovery from addiction.

You can be a helping hand! Click here to learn more about Narcan.[PDF] Click here to view the Spanish version.[PDF]