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Addictions

Need help overcoming an addiction? Contact us to learn how psychiatrist Dr. Hege can help you quit and work to minimize discomfort through managed treatment.

Help for Addiction Problems

If you’re in or near Atlanta, Georgia and you need help with addictions, please contact Dr. Hege today.

Substance abuse is a condition that causes a spectrum of mild to severe consequential problems. Physical addiction withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines(Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ambien), barbiturates, and muscle relaxers usually requires detoxification by tapering with medications in a hospital. Hospital inpatient treatment provides supervised medical control and dispensing of addictive medicine and safety precautions to avoid seizures and potential death. Opioid withdrawal can usually be handled outpatient with Suboxone or Subutex if the patient is medically stable otherwise and is not psychotic or suicidal. Marijuana and stimulant withdrawal can usually be handled outpatient unless the patient cannot stop using without living in a controlled environment.

Dr. Hege specializes in prescribing and managing outpatient medication treatment. Subutex or suboxone can usually relieve opiate withdrawal and provide maintenance replacement therapy. Medications to help stop or greatly reduce alcohol abuse by reducing craving and/or euphoria while drinking include naltrexone and Campral. Stimulant abuse or dependence on cocaine, methamphetamine, or psychostimulants may be helped by anti-craving medications such as N-acetylcysteine, disulfiram, or others. We don’t have any regularly effective marijuana anti-craving medication.

Dr. Hege has been working with patients with substance abuse problems for 38 years. He evaluates patients with substance abuse problems to recommend the most effective methods for resolving the problem. He may recommend inpatient detox, an intensive residential or outpatient recovery program, individual substance abuse therapist treatment, and/or outpatient medication. He has a network of outpatient substance abuse therapists, and inpatient and outpatient recovery programs to recommend.