Transform your recovery with SUD treatment and integrative chiropractic care, combining traditional methods with holistic healing.
Table of Contents
Welcome to our comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment. My name is Dr. Alex Jimenez, and I am a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP), and an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). I also hold certifications in Addiction Therapy (ATN) and as a Chiropractic Clinical Science and Technology Specialist (CCST). In this educational post, I will guide you through the intricate world of SUD care, from the expanding role of nurse practitioners to the critical importance of seamless care transitions. We will explore the latest findings from leading researchers, grounded in modern, evidence-based methods, to understand the challenges and best practices for supporting patients across settings—from primary care to acute hospitals. A special focus will be placed on the unique needs of vulnerable populations, including justice-involved individuals, peripartum women, and adolescents. This discussion will explore the physiological underpinnings of addiction, the rationale behind specific treatment protocols, and the profound impact of stigma on care-seeking behaviors. A key element of this exploration is integrating multidisciplinary care. We will examine how our practice, Injury Medical Clinic PA, combines chiropractic care, functional medicine, and conventional medical oversight to provide a holistic and patient-centered treatment model. My goal is to equip you with a deep, nuanced understanding of these complex issues, empowering you to support those on their recovery journey better.
At Injury Medical Clinic PA, also known as Mission Plaza Injury Medical Clinic, we have cultivated a unique, multidisciplinary environment dedicated to comprehensive patient care in El Paso, Texas. Our clinic is founded on the principle of integrative medicine, a philosophy that brings together the best of various healthcare disciplines to address the root causes of illness and promote holistic well-being. My diverse background spanning chiropractic, advanced practice nursing, and functional medicine has shaped my clinical approach, which is dedicated to understanding the human body as an integrated system.
I have the distinct privilege of working alongside Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD. Dr. Cardenas is Board Certified in Internal Medicine (NPI #1164426749, Texas MD License #J2933) and brings over four decades of invaluable experience as an internist to our team. She serves as our esteemed Medical Director and Collaborative Physician, providing essential medical oversight and direction that anchors our integrative model. This collaborative relationship between a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and a Medical Doctor (MD) is a common and highly effective structure in modern integrative and injury care clinics. Dr. Cardenas’s deep knowledge of internal medicine allows us to provide care that bridges the gap between conventional medical treatment and holistic therapies.
Together, our team integrates:
This integrated approach ensures that our patients receive truly comprehensive care. We don’t just treat symptoms; we address the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. By combining the strengths of chiropractic, internal medicine, functional medicine, and rehabilitation, we can create personalized, highly individualized treatment plans that support patients on their journey to recovery from SUDs and help them build a foundation for a healthier, more resilient life. In this post, I want to share insights from the forefront of SUD research, filtered through my own clinical lens and the integrative model we champion.
Hello, my name is Beth Williams. I am a nurse practitioner and an assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University. It is a pleasure to share my insights on a topic of immense importance: care transitions and the new frontiers in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). In my practice and academic work, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact that dedicated, well-informed healthcare providers can have on the lives of individuals struggling with addiction. Today, I want to take you on a journey through the current landscape of SUD care, focusing on the pivotal role of nurse practitioners (NPs), the best practices for patient care across different settings, and the exciting future of addiction medicine.
I have no financial disclosures to report. For clarity, I’ve prepared a list of abbreviations that we will encounter throughout our discussion:
My objectives for this educational post are to:
The first area I want to focus on is the unique and powerful role that nurse practitioners play in delivering care for substance use disorders. The NP profession is one of the fastest-growing in the United States. We currently have around 258,000 NPs in practice, and this number is projected to grow by an astounding 45% over the next decade. This growth rate significantly outpaces that of many other professions.
What makes this growth so critical? A significant majority—more than 70%—of practicing NPs provide some form of primary care. This places us directly on the front lines of healthcare. Given how many of us practice in this setting, NPs are uniquely positioned to serve as a crucial entry point for individuals needing SUD treatment. Our presence is particularly vital in rural and underserved populations, areas that have historically lacked access to specialized medical services, including addiction care. We are often the most accessible, and sometimes the only, healthcare providers in these communities.
Beyond our numbers and accessibility, the NP education and practice model equips us to be highly skilled and effective providers of SUD care. Our training is rooted in a holistic and patient-centered philosophy that aligns perfectly with the needs of individuals struggling with addiction. This philosophy emphasizes several core principles:
Motivational interviewing, a collaborative, goal-oriented communication style designed to strengthen a person’s motivation for and commitment to change, is arguably a core competency of nurse practitioner practice. It is a fundamental part of providing compassionate and effective care for patients with SUDs. We learn to listen for “change talk” and guide patients to recognize their own reasons for wanting to change, rather than simply telling them what to do.
The scope of practice for NPs, particularly regarding the prescription of controlled substances, is determined by state law. These laws dictate our level of practice autonomy and whether we need a formal practice agreement with a collaborating physician.
One of the most significant and positive changes in recent years has been the elimination of the X-waiver requirement for prescribing buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) that reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms, significantly lowering the risk of overdose and helping people stabilize their lives. Previously, providers had to complete special training and obtain this waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe it. This created a massive bottleneck in access to care.
Now, with that barrier removed, prescribing buprenorphine is firmly within the scope of practice for primary care providers, including NPs, in a wide variety of settings. This is a game-changing development that has the potential to save countless lives by making this life-saving medication as accessible as treatments for other chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
The situation with methadone, another effective medication for OUD, is different. Federal law mandates that methadone, when used for the treatment of OUD, must be dispensed from a licensed Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), often referred to as a methadone clinic. However, within these OTPs, state law again determines the NP’s scope of practice. Furthermore, in a hospital setting, NPs may oversee the initiation or dose adjustment of methadone for patients who are admitted for a different medical reason but also have a co-occurring OUD, all in accordance with their state’s scope of practice laws.
Despite these positive developments, I must acknowledge a significant gap. In my experience, the time dedicated to learning about SUD care and treatment in many NP programs is quite limited. Curricula are packed with competing demands, and addiction medicine often doesn’t receive the focus it deserves, given the scale of the public health crisis we face.
However, established pathways exist for NPs who want advanced training and specialization in this critical field.
When we discuss the settings where patients receive care, it is crucial first to acknowledge a harsh reality: for many people who use substances, the healthcare system is viewed as a risk environment. This is a powerful and heartbreaking concept. Instead of seeing clinics and hospitals as places of healing and safety, they see them as places where they are likely to encounter stigma, discrimination, and even punishment. They may fear legal repercussions or having their children taken away. They may mistrust providers, anticipating judgment and disrespect.
This perception has a cascade of devastatingly negative outcomes:
The ultimate result of this cycle is that instead of engaging in preventative care or addressing health issues early, patients present later with more acute and complex illnesses. This leads to increased morbidity (illness), mortality (death), and significantly higher costs to the entire healthcare system.
To meet patients where they are, we need a robust, interconnected continuum of care. Think of it as a web of services with primary care sitting at the very center, acting as the hub. From this central point, various auxiliary options radiate outwards, tailored to a patient’s specific level of need at any given time.
This ecosystem of SUD care includes:
How do we determine the right level of care for a particular individual? One of the most widely used and respected models is the ASAM Levels of Care Criteria, developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it provides a framework for a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment that guides individualized treatment planning.
The ASAM criteria evaluate the patient across six key dimensions:
Based on this holistic assessment, the ASAM criteria define a continuum of care ranging from the most intensive to the least intensive levels:
The beauty of the ASAM criteria is that it’s a strength-based model. It doesn’t just look at a patient’s problems, needs, and liabilities. It also systematically assesses their strengths, assets, resources, and support structures. This information is then used to match the patient to the appropriate level of care on the continuum, ensuring they get the right amount of support at the right time.
I want to return to the central role of primary care because it represents our single greatest opportunity to transform how we address substance use in this country. Primary care providers (PCPs) constitute the largest clinical workforce in the United States. For most adults, their PCP is their main, and sometimes only, point of contact with the healthcare system.
This creates a unique and powerful dynamic. PCPs often have a longitudinal relationship with their patients, seeing them over months, years, and even decades. This long-term relationship allows them to build trust and meet patients with SUDs wherever they are along their personal trajectory of readiness to change their habits. The intervention a PCP provides can be tailored to the patient’s specific stage of change:
Despite primary care being the ideal setting for this kind of longitudinal, patient-centered SUD care, a stark reality prevents this vision from being fully realized. Few primary care settings in the United States currently offer a full range of SUD treatments.
The numbers are staggering. It is estimated that a shocking 86.6% of patients with Opioid Use Disorder who could benefit from life-saving medication do not receive it. Why is this happening?
To address the elephant in the room, we must acknowledge the broader crisis facing primary care in the United States. We have a massive and growing dearth of primary care providers. Looking at data projected for 2025, the picture is bleak:
This profound shortage places an immense burden on existing PCPs. For these already overburdened providers, taking on the complexities of comprehensive SUD care can feel overwhelming. They face several significant barriers:
Despite these challenges, many clinics have successfully integrated SUD treatment into their primary care models. How do they do it? A systematic review that looked at twelve representative models identified four common components of successful programs:
The most successful primary care models almost always employ team-based approaches. For instance, they might utilize nurse care managers as the primary point of contact for patients on buprenorphine. These nurses can handle follow-up calls, coordinate refills, manage urine toxicology screening, and provide ongoing support, freeing up the PCP to handle more complex medical decisions.
Additionally, supporting providers and empowering SUD champions within the clinic is essential. This means providing ongoing education, mentorship, and protected administrative time for the providers who are leading the charge in delivering this care.
Excellent resources are available to support PCPs in this work. One I particularly want to highlight is the Provider Clinical Support System (PCSS). This is a program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) specifically designed to support clinicians in treating OUD. One of PCSS’s most valuable features is its clinical mentoring program, where any primary care clinician can sign up and be paired with an experienced mentor to consult on challenging cases, such as how best to manage a complex buprenorphine induction.
Let’s walk through a case study that beautifully demonstrates these best practices in action.
James is a 52-year-old man who has an appointment with his primary care nurse practitioner at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). The official purpose of the visit is to discuss his diabetes and chronic pain management. James has a known history of Opioid Use Disorder.
During the visit, the NP doesn’t just focus on his blood sugar and pain scores. She skillfully uses open-ended, non-judgmental questions to assess his overall well-being. She specifically inquires if he has been having any cravings to use opioids, especially given his ongoing struggle with chronic pain.
This safe and empathetic approach works. James feels comfortable enough to disclose that he has recently returned to using illicit fentanyl. He explains that the main drivers of his use are his unmanaged pain and his underlying depression. James had been on buprenorphine previously but stopped taking it because he thought he didn’t need it anymore. He tells his NP, “I thought I could do it without support.” Now, he is asking for help and wants to restart the medication.
The NP’s Response:
As we can see, this model of co-located services and warm handoffs creates a seamless and supportive experience. James is more likely to engage in these multiple services because he feels that everyone involved in his care is working together as a team.
After the Visit:
By the time James leaves the clinic that day, he has a concrete plan in place:
Over the coming weeks, James successfully transitions back onto buprenorphine. For patients undergoing a high-dose initiation, it’s recommended to have very frequent, short-interval follow-ups. James can have these check-ins by telephone with both his NP and the pharmacist, allowing them to address any questions or concerns in real time.
During a follow-up visit with his NP, James reports that getting to the point where he was in moderate to severe withdrawal—which is necessary before starting a high dose of buprenorphine to avoid precipitated withdrawal—was very challenging. But he says that once he was able to start the medication, he felt much, much better. He and the NP work together to increase his dose slightly to optimize its effectiveness. They also review the plan for his ongoing care, which will involve regular check-ins with the clinic’s nurse care manager. He is also introduced by phone to a peer support specialist, who can provide an extra layer of support and encouragement as he moves forward in his recovery.
At the end of the call, James feels hopeful. He feels that he has a team he can trust and turn to for help if he struggles in the future. He also feels a profound sense of pride that he has not used fentanyl in two days.
In the future, James has regular visits with the nurse care manager, who coordinates his buprenorphine refills and urine toxicology testing. He begins to dig into the roots of his substance use by actively participating in treatment for his depression and learning new CBT skills for managing his chronic pain. He is no longer just treating the symptom (opioid use); he is healing the whole person.
I want to pause and acknowledge that this case represents an optimal situation. To many of you, especially those working in under-resourced or rural settings, this may feel aspirational. The various services that James was able to access—the co-located pharmacy, the on-site mental health counselor, the nurse care manager, the peer specialist—may not be available in one place, or even at all, in the settings where you work.
But I believe this case is incredibly important to reflect on because it highlights the power of treating the whole person. This is something that we as nurse practitioners are especially trained and uniquely positioned to do.
Another important caveat is that for some patients, even this high level of integrated primary care may not provide sufficient support to help them disrupt their illicit substance use. For this reason, it is essential to know your local referral resources and be ready to refer patients to a higher level of care, such as a specialty SUD treatment facility, when needed.
When a patient’s treatment needs cannot be fully met within a primary care setting, a variety of specialty SUD treatment options exist. These programs offer a more intensive level of care and structure. Examples include:
It is critically important to note, especially given the limited access to specialty treatment in most areas, that participation in a behavioral program should not be a prerequisite for a patient to receive medical treatment for an SUD. While behavioral interventions like counseling and therapy are a mainstay of treatment and are highly beneficial, they should not be used as a gatekeeper for life-saving medications. A patient should be able to be started on buprenorphine or naltrexone for OUD without needing to take part in counseling simultaneously. The evidence is clear: these medications save lives on their own, and adding barriers to them is counterproductive and harmful.
Acute care settings, like hospitals and emergency departments, represent a profound opportunity for patients to initiate SUD care. A medical crisis—an overdose, a serious infection, a traumatic injury—often serves as a “teachable moment.” This is a point in time when an individual is forced to confront the consequences of their substance use, reevaluate their life and goals, and may be more willing to accept help and try treatment than at any other time.
For patients who have long avoided the healthcare system due to past experiences with stigma, a positive and compassionate engagement during a hospitalization can be transformative. It can begin to repair their trust in the medical system and open the door to ongoing care.
The gold standard for providing addiction care in the inpatient hospital setting is the inpatient addiction consult service. These services have been shown to dramatically improve patient outcomes, including reducing hospital readmissions and increasing the number of patients who not only start but also continue taking medications for Opioid Use Disorder after they are discharged.
So, what exactly is an addiction consult service? An ACS is an inpatient, interdisciplinary team composed of experts in substance use disorder treatment. The exact composition of the team may vary by hospital, but it typically consists of:
An ACS offers comprehensive SUD care during the hospital stay and, critically, establishes post-discharge linkages to ensure a warm handoff to community-based treatment. The services they provide include:
Beyond direct patient care, addiction consult services also drive system-wide change across the hospital system. They achieve this by:
Let’s examine how an interdisciplinary addiction consult service might engage a patient in the hospital.
Lisa is a 32-year-old woman who presents to the emergency department. She reports seven days of increasing swelling, redness, and warmth in her left lower leg. She openly tells the care team that she has been using both intravenous and inhaled fentanyl, as well as methamphetamines, daily. She needs immediate withdrawal management, stating that her last use was about six hours ago and she is already starting to feel sick.
As the team begins to talk with her, she says she is very worried about her dog, which she left in the care of a friend. She’s not sure how long her friend can keep the dog, and this is a major source of stress for her.
A review of her chart reveals that she has previously tested positive for active, untreated hepatitis C. When asked about it, she says, “Yeah, I think someone told me I had that a while back, but I haven’t gotten around to getting it treated.”
The ACS Team in Action:
Within the first 24 hours of Lisa’s hospital stay, the addiction consult service is paged.
Two Days Later:
With the ACS team’s intensive engagement, Lisa’s situation has stabilized significantly.
As Lisa continues her hospital stay, the ACS team continues to support her and help her prepare for discharge.
One of the most critical and often most difficult aspects of SUD care is the care transition. A care transition is any time a patient who is engaged in treatment needs to move between different settings or levels of care. This could mean transitioning from an inpatient hospital stay to an outpatient clinic, moving to a more intensive option like residential treatment, or stepping down to an intensive outpatient program.
These transitions are notoriously challenging and represent points of high vulnerability where people often “fall through the cracks.” There are many reasons for this, including:
A scoping review that specifically looked at transitions from acute to community-based settings identified several best practices (Krawczyk, Picher, & Feder, 2017). Most importantly, we must leverage existing community partnerships and proactively establish clear lines of communication between different treatment agencies. We cannot wait until a crisis to build these bridges.
Research consistently shows that fragmentation in the care journey is a major predictor of relapse and disengagement. One of the most powerful tools for improving patient retention is ensuring continuity of care with the same providers. Let me illustrate with a clinical scenario. A patient is admitted to the hospital with a condition complicated by an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). During their stay, a provider initiates buprenorphine.
In my own APRN practice, I have found that providing “bridge prescriptions” at hospital discharge is indispensable. The gap between discharge and the first outpatient visit is a period of extreme vulnerability. Cravings and withdrawal can quickly return. Therefore, the standard of care should be to provide at least a two-week supply of their medication, such as buprenorphine, upon discharge. This simple act provides a crucial buffer, giving the patient time to connect with outpatient resources without the pressure of impending withdrawal. It’s a practical, compassionate measure that directly supports retention in care.
Another powerful strategy, supported by a growing body of evidence, is co-locating services. The principle is simple: make it as easy as possible for patients to access comprehensive care. Integrated care hubs where a patient can see their buprenorphine provider, attend a therapy session, and meet with a case manager all in one place dramatically reduce barriers. Furthermore, we must offer flexibility in care modality, such as telehealth, to honor patient preference and acknowledge real-world constraints.
Finally, the role of care navigators cannot be overstated. These individuals have specialized knowledge of community resources and act as guides and advocates for the patient. A care navigator can help a patient schedule appointments, understand insurance benefits, and connect them with transportation and support groups. They provide the “warm handoff” that is so crucial for building trust. Programs that fund and integrate care navigation are an essential investment in the human side of healthcare.
When we consider care transitions, we must focus on populations that face extraordinary barriers, such as justice-involved individuals transitioning from carceral settings—jails or prisons—back into the community. This period is fraught with peril.
We know from stark and tragic data that overdose is a leading cause of death following release from prison (Suen, Lalehparast, & Binswanger, 2020). The reasons are both physiological and systemic.
Another critical challenge is the availability and implementation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) within jail and prison systems. While providing MOUD (like buprenorphine or methadone) in these settings is a life-saving intervention (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019), its implementation is often inconsistent.
To make these transitions safer, we need a concerted effort to bridge the gap between the carceral system and community-based care, ensuring that individuals are released with insurance in place, a scheduled appointment, and a supply of any necessary medications.
Another population at extremely high risk for negative outcomes, including fatal overdose, is peripartum individuals—those who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are parenting young children. For these women, the journey of substance use is entangled with stigma and fear.
Pregnant women who use substances often face intense judgment. Their primary fear is that their substance use will be discovered and lead to legal repercussions and affect their child custody. This fear is so potent that it drives dangerous behavior: avoiding medical care. Studies have shown that the most common strategy women use to hide their drug use during pregnancy is to avoid prenatal care altogether (Roberts & Nuru-Jeter, 2010).
This fear is not unfounded and is intertwined with reporting to Child Protective Services (CPS). As healthcare providers, we are mandated reporters. However, there is a great deal of confusion about what this means. It is a common misconception that any substance use by a pregnant woman must be reported as suspected maltreatment.
However, the federal law gives states authority to determine their own policies, and many have taken legislative steps to criminalize this behavior specifically for pregnant women.
The consequences of this criminalization are not just unjust; they are actively harmful.
A compelling cross-sectional study published in 2022 found that women in states with more punitive reporting policies initiated prenatal care later, had a lower likelihood of receiving adequate prenatal care, and were less likely to have a postpartum healthcare visit. The conclusion is inescapable: fear of reporting directly and negatively affects care-seeking behavior. This fear also impacts SUD treatment engagement. Data show that fewer than one in four pregnant individuals with OUD receive treatment in any given month (Terplan, Longinaker, & Appel, 2015).
Substance use during pregnancy is best addressed with treatment and support, not with stigma and criminalization. Reporting can have severe adverse consequences, including a complete disengagement from the health system. We must also consider the profound and lasting trauma of custody loss. Research has shown that mothers who have their parental rights terminated experience devastating consequences, including shorter intervals between pregnancies, suggesting a cycle of unresolved trauma.
As treatment providers, we must offer nonjudgmental, person-centered words to a woman who has overcome immense fear to see us; they should be: “Thank you for coming to see me today. I know it wasn’t easy to get here, and I appreciate you trusting me with your care.” We must have realistic discussions of the risks while honoring the patient’s goals. The postpartum period is another time of high vulnerability. We need to offer flexibility in follow-up, provide resources for transportation or childcare, and use warm handoffs to other providers. We should also proactively connect patients with needed social services.
For women with OUD who are pregnant, MOUD is a life-saving, evidence-based intervention. The two primary medications are buprenorphine and methadone. The most important point is that both buprenorphine and methadone are safe and recommended in pregnancy.
For both the mother and the fetus, the risk of untreated opioid use and repeated cycles of withdrawal is far greater than the risk of the medication’s effects. Untreated OUD in pregnancy is associated with poor fetal growth, placental abruption, preterm labor, and fetal death. MOUD stabilizes this system, allowing the mother to disengage from the chaotic cycle of illicit drug use and focus on her health.
One of the most common concerns is Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). It’s important to be transparent and explain that yes, there is a risk the baby may experience NOWS, a treatable condition where the newborn experiences withdrawal symptoms (Patrick, Barfield, & Poindexter, 2020). However, the benefits of the mother being on a stable dose of medication far outweigh these risks.
A crucial counseling point is that the risk and severity of NOWS are not directly correlated with the mother’s dose of buprenorphine or methadone. The best and safest medication dose is the one that adequately treats the patient’s withdrawal and cravings. Reducing a woman’s dose during pregnancy out of a misguided fear of NOWS can be dangerous, as it may lead to relapse.
Pregnancy causes significant physiological changes, and women often require higher doses of buprenorphine or methadone to maintain stability, particularly in the third trimester. After a woman gives birth, her metabolism begins to return to its pre-pregnancy state, likely between three to twelve weeks postpartum. This means a dose that was therapeutic during pregnancy may become too high, potentially leading to oversedation.
The evidence is unequivocal: MOUD during pregnancy is associated with positive outcomes for both the mother and the child, including a significantly decreased risk of overdose.
Let’s walk through a case. Liz is a 32-year-old woman who is one day postpartum. She has a history of OUD (fentanyl use) and was started on buprenorphine during pregnancy, reaching a dose of 32 mg daily in her third trimester.
Considerations for Post-Discharge Care Transitions:
The final special population I want to discuss is adolescents. The landscape of youth drug use is evolving, and our approach must evolve with it. The good news is that, overall, youth drug use is down. However, this is overshadowed by deeply concerning statistics.
Treating adolescents requires a fundamentally different approach, rooted in neurobiology and psychology.
The field of addiction medicine is constantly evolving. Two important topics are at the forefront of this evolution.
Research has identified genetics as one of multiple factors that predispose individuals to developing SUDs. Genetics is thought to play a moderate role, interacting with environmental and social risk factors.
While genetic research will deepen our understanding, we are not yet at a point where genetic testing is a clinically useful or ethically sound tool.
A hot topic is the potential use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat SUDs. This class includes drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic), liraglutide (Victoza), and dulaglutide (Trulicity), which are used for type 2 diabetes and weight management. GLP-1 receptors are also found in the brain’s reward system, and the theory is that these medications might reduce the rewarding effects of substances.
The evidence is early but intriguing:
This is correlational data, not proof of cause and effect, but it is a strong signal. We are likely to see more research on these medications for SUDs in the coming years.
Navigating the world of substance use disorders is a complex and deeply human endeavor. From ensuring seamless care transitions to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to special populations, our work as clinicians requires a commitment to lifelong learning and a holistic, patient-centered perspective.
Here at Injury Medical Clinic PA, our integrative model, which brings together the expertise of chiropractic, functional medicine, and the vital medical oversight of Dr. Maria Cardenas, is built on this very foundation. We believe that by addressing the structural, biochemical, and psychosocial aspects of health, we can offer our patients a more comprehensive and effective path to recovery and wellness.
Thank you for joining me on this educational journey. I hope that these insights will be valuable in your own practice and in your efforts to support those affected by substance use disorders.
I want to highlight a couple of excellent resources that can help you and your patients locate SUD treatment in your area.
SEO Tags: Substance Use Disorder, SUD Treatment, Integrative Care, Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, Dr. Alex Jimenez, Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, El Paso TX, El Paso Chiropractor, Injury Medical Clinic, Nurse Practitioner, Addiction Medicine, Buprenorphine, Methadone, Opioid Use Disorder, Care Transitions, Addiction Consult Service, ASAM Criteria, Primary Care, Holistic Healthcare, Patient-Centered Care, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Recovery, Mental Health, Chronic Pain, Fentanyl, Evidence-Based Treatment, MOUD, Peripartum Substance Use, Adolescent Substance Use, Overdose Prevention, Justice-Involved Individuals, GLP-1 Agonists, Semaglutide, SUD Genetics, Integrative Chiropractic Care
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information on this blog site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic & Wellness Blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on this site and our family practice-based chiromed.com site, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.
Our areas of chiropractic practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.
Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters and issues that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable effort to provide supportive citations and has identified relevant research studies that support our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807
New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate
Texas RN License # 1191402
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
(Board Certified: Family Practice Nurse Practitioner—Multistate)*
(Licensed Nurse Practitioner & Chiropractor - Multistate)*
Clinical Director
Digital Business Card
Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified: Internal Medicine)
(Licensed Medical Doctor)
Medical Director, Clinical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426749
MD License #: J2933
Licenses and Board Certifications:
MD: Medical Doctor
DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
APRNP: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
FNP-BC: Family Practice Specialization (Multi-State Board Certified)
RN: Registered Nurse (Multi-State Compact License)
CFMP: Certified Functional Medicine Provider
MSN-FNP: Master of Science in Family Practice Medicine
MSACP: Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice
IFMCP: Institute of Functional Medicine
CCST: Certified Chiropractic Spinal Trauma
ATN: Advanced Translational Neutrogenomics
Memberships & Associations:
TCA: Texas Chiropractic Association: Member ID: 104311
AANP: American Association of Nurse Practitioners: Member ID: 2198960
ANA: American Nurse Association: Member ID: 06458222 (District TX01)
TNA: Texas Nurse Association: Member ID: 06458222
NPI: 1205907805
| Primary Taxonomy | Selected Taxonomy | State | License Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| No | 111N00000X - Chiropractor | NM | DC2182 |
| Yes | 111N00000X - Chiropractor | TX | DC5807 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | TX | 1191402 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | FL | 11043890 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | CO | C-APN.0105610-C-NP |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | NY | N25929 |
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
(Board Certified: Family Practice Nurse Practitioner—Multistate)*
(Licensed Nurse Practitioner & Chiropractor - Multistate)*
Clinical Director
Digital Business Card
Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified: Internal Medicine)*
(Licensed Medical Doctor)*
Medical Director, Clinical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426749
MD License #: J2933
Regenerative Wellness for Athletes in El Paso: PRP, PFP, MFAT, IV Therapy, Peptides, and Chiropractic… Read More
Ergonomic Posture Care: Chiropractic, Rehabilitation, and Peptide Support at Wellness Doctor RX Abstract Long periods… Read More
By Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST Read More
Inflammation Relief With Regenerative Chiropractic Care Abstract: This article explains how regenerative medicine therapies, including… Read More
By Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST Read More
Joint Trauma After Car Accidents: Wellness-Focused Recovery Options Abstract: Joint trauma injuries in a motor… Read More