Opioid Addiction Treatment in McDonough, GA

Treatment starts with a private evaluation of your opioid use, health history, and goals. From there, Dr. Buchi can prescribe and monitor buprenorphine (Suboxone) when it is a safe fit, help manage withdrawal and cravings, screen for depression, anxiety, and trauma, and coordinate counseling. Visits are available at our McDonough office or by telehealth across Georgia.

Many patients can start soon after their first visit, and same-day starts are possible when it is clinically safe. Because buprenorphine can cause sudden withdrawal if taken too soon after other opioids, you will get clear instructions on when to take your first dose. Recent fentanyl use may call for a slower, specially planned start.

Often, yes. Federal rules allow buprenorphine for opioid use disorder to be prescribed through telehealth, including the first prescription, with some limits on longer-term prescribing. Dr. Buchi will let you know whether online care is safe for you, and in-person visits at the McDonough office are always available.

Not without your written permission. Substance use treatment records have extra federal privacy protection under 42 CFR Part 2, in addition to HIPAA. Information about your care is not shared with employers, family members, or courts unless you sign a consent or the law requires it, such as in a medical emergency.

There is no fixed timeline. Research shows that staying on buprenorphine longer lowers the risk of relapse and overdose, and some people continue for years. If you want to taper off, Dr. Buchi will lower your dose slowly once you are stable, at a pace that protects your recovery.

Most major plans cover visits for opioid use disorder and buprenorphine, although some require prior authorization for the medication. TheAdvancedMed works with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Ambetter Peach State, and Kaiser Permanente, and also offers self-pay. Our team can verify your benefits before your first visit.

Call 911 right away. If you have naloxone (Narcan), give it and stay with the person until help arrives. Naloxone is sold over the counter at pharmacies, and keeping it at home during recovery is strongly recommended. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 at any time.