TREATMENT AVAILABLE — Brilliant Treatment Services, an outpatient opioid treatment facility, has opened in Brilliant. Its staff includes, from left, Michelle Norman, assistant regional director for Pinnacle Treatment Centers, which operates it; Ariana VanCuren, counselor; Julia Stanberry, licensed practical nurse; Chaunda Stubbs, medical assistant; and Tina Thomas, licensed practical nurse. -- Contributed

BRILLIANT –Key to a person overcoming addiction is that he or she must want it, so Brilliant Treatment Services involves its patients in planning treatment that addresses their body, mind and spirit, said Chris Byers, regional vice president of Pinnacle Treatment Services.

Located at 1479 Third St., Brilliant Treatment Services is the 16th outpatient opioid treatment facility opened by Pinnacle in Ohio and one of 115 addiction treatment facilities run by it in eight states.

A long-time area resident, Byers said he knew the Ohio Valley is among many areas deeply affected by drug abuse and access to a local, affordable treatment center is vital to addressing the problem.

“We’ve lost too many friends and neighbors and loved ones to overdose. Addiction can affect anyone, and seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s the most courageous thing you can do,” said Byers, who has worked in addiction treatment and counseling since 1995.

“I’m excited to bring this center to the Ohio Valley because I know the good it will do and the lives it will save.”

Joseph Pritchard, chief executive officer of Pinnacle Treatment Services, said the Brilliant location will take a holistic approach to treating each patient.

He noted that includes medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as methadone and buprenorphine, to curb withdrawal symptoms from heroin and pain pill addiction and individual and group counseling.

Under the direction of Executive Director Michelle Norman, Brilliant Treatment Services is staffed by a team of highly qualified, licensed and certified professionals, said Byers.

He said mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder often play a role in drug addiction, as individuals turn to illegal drugs to “self-medicate.”

Byers said patients at Pinnacle counsel are counseled in better coping methods and Pinnacle has worked with other agencies to provide help to those with the most deep-rooted problems.

He said some may be referred to longer term care in outpatient facilities operated by Pinnacle in Columbus and Ravenna.

But he said many will benefit from care at Brilliant Treatment Services, which also offers job-related assistance, from aid in creating resumes and preparing for job interviews to training arranged with local technical and other schools.

Byers said drawing on the strengths of such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, Pinnacle understands the value of a peer support group in remaining drug-free long-term and has established an Internet-based support group to which former patients may turn for help.

Open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday, Brilliant Treatment Services accepts Medicare, Ohio Medicaid and commercial insurance and offers reasonable self-pay rates, said Pinnacle officials.

Byers said, “The thing that keeps many people from getting help is a stigma (about drug addiction). But I don’t know anyone whose life hasn’t been touched by this epidemic. We want people to know they’re not alone. There are others out there like them.”

“Every day they wake up, they have a chance to get well and we want to help them achieve that,” he said.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)