Aegis Treatment Centers Opens Program in Ceres to Help Individuals Successfully Overcome Opioid Addiction

Aegis Treatment Centers, the largest outpatient treatment provider in California for opioid addiction, will open an opioid treatment program on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 1768 Mitchell Avenue, Suite 301, in Ceres.

This is Aegis’ 36th center in the state and second in Stanislaus County. Aegis treats almost 1,000 men and women daily at its nearby Modesto location.

Owned by Pinnacle Treatment Centers, a leading drug and alcohol addiction treatment services provider headquartered in New Jersey, Aegis continues to expand its presence throughout California, driven by Pinnacle’s mission—to make recovery possible by transforming lives, communities and the families with treatment that works.

“As Americans continue to face the opioid epidemic, we are accelerating our efforts to provide the very best in high quality treatment services to individuals suffering with addiction,” said Joe Pritchard, CEO, Pinnacle Treatment Centers. “This is our commitment, to drive affordable services into underserved communities. At the heart of these efforts are our community-based programs that help patients achieve long-term recovery.”

Aegis Ceres will provide the full range of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services, including FDA-approved medicines methadone and buprenorphine to curb withdrawal symptoms from heroin and opioid addiction; prevent relapse; and quell the physical discomfort that frequently accompanies recovery from opioid use disorder. In addition to medication, individual and group counseling will be offered as part of a whole-patient approach to care.

Prescription painkiller abuse, rising heroin use, and overdoses are part of a nationwide crisis. Research shows that the integration of both behavioral and pharmacologic therapy is the most effective approach to overcoming opioid addiction and is considered the gold standard of treatment.

“The stigma attached to methadone programs is a significant barrier to treatment and recovery for people who need it most,” said Holly Broce, MHA, LCADC, Senior Vice President, OTP Division, Pinnacle Treatment Centers. “Thankfully, many see methadone treatment for what it really is and the value it truly provides: a legitimate, evidence-based medical treatment for opioid use disorder backed by 50 years of clinical data.”

As the opioid crisis has spread, it has affected both urban and rural communities across the country. California saw more than 2,000 opioid deaths in 2017, according to the California Department of Public Health. Stanislaus County experienced 35 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2018, and 50 in 2019, a 43 percent increase.

“We are so grateful to finally be able to open our doors to the residents of Ceres and surrounding areas, especially during this time when communities are experiencing increased levels of stress and anxiety,” said Rebecca Mitchell, Regional Clinic Manager, North Central Valley, Aegis Treatment Centers.

Core treatment services at the Ceres facility includes assessment; education about substance use disorders; individualized treatment plans; and patient-centered individual and group counseling. In addition, peer-based support will be integrated into programming.

Among the evidence-based and holistic therapeutic treatment approaches at Aegis Ceres are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); motivational interviewing; relapse prevention; life skills; contingency management; mindfulness; and stress and relaxation techniques.

The center also will offer specialized programming for pregnant patients, gender-specific groups, and culture-specific groups.

Aegis gave the community an introductory peek of the facility in early March during a ribbon-cutting celebration attended by approximately 100 stakeholders including staff from the local Assembly Member’s office, members of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, and the Ceres Fire Chief.

Support from community leaders has been strong. “We are so happy that our community partner, Aegis, is opening its Ceres location,” said Dawn Vercelli, Chief, Substance Use Disorder Services, Stanislaus County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services. “Their new center will help hundreds of individuals every day, save many lives from potential overdose, and provide hope during trying times.”

Aegis Ceres accepts Medical, Medicare, commercial insurance, and offers reasonable self-pay rates. The center is open weekdays, 5:30 a.m.- 2 p.m., and on weekends, 7- 11 a.m. Anyone needing a free confidential assessment can call 209-353-4838.

About Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a recognized leader in comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment serving more than 29,000 patients daily in California, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. With more than 110 community-based locations and programs, Pinnacle provides a full continuum of quality care including medically-monitored detoxification/withdrawal management, inpatient/residential treatment, partial hospitalization/care, recovery residences, intensive and general outpatient programming, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. For more information, visit pinnacletreatment.com or call 800-782-1520.

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