Dr. Garrett McGovern joins me on the podcast tomorrow (Saturday 15th) at 12pm for a live chat and I’m really excited as this will be a great conversation about the work Garrett does as an addiction specialist but also a wider discussion about drugs , drug addiction and drug policies.

Dr. Garrett McGovern is Medical Director and Founder of the Priority Medical Clinic. He has also featured in many articles and interviews over the years on discussions around drug addiction, drug policy and harm reduction.

Taken from http://prioritymedicalclinic.ie/

“Approach & Philosophy (of Priority Medical Clinic)

The Priority Medical clinic is the first medically led private OUTPATIENT alcohol and drug addiction treatment programme in Ireland. Dr McGovern brings a wealth of experience having worked in the field of alcohol, drug and behavioral addiction since 1998. He started out treating heroin addiction and has continued in the opiate dependence field. In recent years opiate addiction has exploded in Ireland beyond heroin with the emergence of painkiller opiate use.

Our treatment  approach is pragmatic, evidence based, non-judgemental and individually tailored to the patient. There is a particular emphasis on improving mental , emotional and physical health and the use of cognitive behavioural therapy, individual counselling and relaxation techniques. The focus is on the individual rather than the drug and the programme is delivered in a way that reduces the stigma associated with addiction.

Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition which afflicts many families worldwide. The programme Dr McGovern has developed at the Priority Medical Clinic is evidence based and brings together the skills of specialists in addiction counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy and relaxation therapy.

This multidisciplinary collaborative approach provides patients with the best possible care in dealing with their addictions. It allows people to continue with normal life activities without impinging on important duties such as work and family life.

Drug addiction is recognized by the World Health Organisation as a chronic relapsing condition for which there is no known cure. It should be viewed no differently than other chronic medical illnesses.

The ethos of Priority Medical Clinic is one of Harm reduction, “a term which defines policies, programmes, services and actions that work to reduce the health, social and economic harms to individuals, communities and society that are associated with the use of drugs”(Newcombe 1992).

• An advanced,comprehensive and collaborative addiction recovery programme

• Emphatic and patient centered approach

• Evidence based interventions

• Provides a comfortable, safe and positive environment

• Emphasis on improving mental, emotional and physical health.

• Alcohol, drug and behavioral addiction programmes are tailored to meet individual needs.”

If you have any questions you would like asked during this live discussion then email them to martinsworldpodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment starting with @Martin’sWorld in the live chat box over on youtube now