Stimulant Use Disorder Track

When discussing stimulant use, many think of drugs like cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and speed. While these drugs are still a large problem, in the past 30 years, there has been an explosion in the availability and distribution of stimulant prescription drugs. These prescription drugs have had many positive effects that cannot be discounted, but some of these drugs have created substance abuse issues for many individuals. Drugs like Adderall, Ritalin and Vyvanse are some of the prescription drugs that have unfortunately spawned misuse. With prescriptions for these drugs on the rise, it is essential that people are aware of its potential for abuse.  

At Ocean State Recovery Center we see many patients struggling with these unhealthy dependencies. When it comes to determining eligibility for level of care, treatment programs must use ASAM Dimension criteria. Due to Dimension One criteria limitations of acute intoxication withdrawal, most patients with stimulant use disorders do not meet criteria for detox and residential levels of care. As such, many of these patients struggle to find substance use treatment that is appropriate for their level of need in Rhode Island.

Our day treatment level of care provides the same clinical intensity as residential without the 24 hour monitoring that is often necessary due to the reduced Dimension One level of need. 

Our Stimulant Responsive Track Utilizes the following clinical care when treating stimulant use disorder:

• Ongoing Physiological/Medical  Evaluation - this evaluation will assess the biological and physiological effects specific to stimulant use disorders. Special attention is given to endocrine (hormone) systems that are often dysregulated because of prolonged stimulant use. 

• Ongoing Psychiatric Evaluation (daily by clinician weekly/bi-weekly by NP) - is used to assess the emergence of manic or psychotic symptoms which often present weeks after discontinuation of use. Staff will utilize psychotherapy interventions for mood stabilization, craving suppression, and hyper-vigilance management. 

• Ongoing Pharmacological Evaluation - to accurately assess the best pharmaceutical interventions, OSRC utilizes Genesight Therapy, an evidenced based test to determine which medication will work best for the identified patient based on their individual genetics. 

• Psychoeducation/Regulation - our clinical staff are trained to provide specific education on the impact of stimulants on the body and mind, including late onset psychosis, hypervigilance, difficulty with concentration, poor sleep, and appetite dysregulation. 

• Additional Support - staff will also utilize both cognitive and active resourcing skills to regulate mood and anxiety throughout the process of PAWS. Transcranial Neurostimulation is also used as a non-pharmaceutical way of managing cortisol and serotonin  dysregulation consistent with prolonged stimulant use.