Addictive Disease is a medical condition, not a mental illness, and we treat it with a caring and compassionate approach that allows our patients to feel comfortable expressing their needs without shame or guilt. Working with the patient, we develop a comprehensive treatment program. Whenever possible, we meet with the patient’s family and friends so they all understand the plan.

We treat many people for both primary care and addictive disorders. Our clinicians are sensitive to patients in recovery and seek to prescribe only medications that will not put their patients’ sobriety in jeopardy, choosing from the wide variety of non-addictive medications used to treat insomnia, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, depression, and similar conditions.

Our physicians have undergone rigorous training and are highly experienced in the treatment of addiction. We are all members of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the professional organization that represents physician specialists in the field.

Medically managed detoxification is a gradual process that uses medication to stabilize patients, minimize their symptoms of drug withdrawal, and help them transition to a rehabilitation program or other care.

We currently manage outpatient detoxification, when medically appropriate, for alcohol and opiates through our office in Burlingame.

This is the most important aspect of recovery. For many addicts, stopping drug usage is “easy.” “Staying quit” is the challenge. Rehabilitation can help.

Many patients, especially those who have never been through a treatment program, resist this aspect of treatment. To help provide additional support, we refer to a variety of local addiction rehabilitation services, include the Mills-Peninsula Chemical Dependency Outpatient Program, 12-Step Programs, individual and group therapy, and community-based treatment programs. We can also refer to regional and national residential treatment programs.