top of page
BL_2996 dsmith_eq Daniel Smith (1).png

 About

WHAT IS SPIRIT KEEPERS TREATMENT?

A Better Approach for Patients

​

  • The naltrexone implant greatly reduces or eliminates cravings: patients no longer have to “white knuckle” their way through life after treatment. Patients can even receive multiple implants, ensuring years of recovery.

  • In many cases, an employee can be back to work within a few days!​

  • Patients receive outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, counseling, and intensive one-on-one life-coaching sessions.​

  • Individuals who need more comprehensive care are placed in a Spirit Keepers intensive outpatient program (IOP) that exposes patients to real-life triggers and helps them deal effectively with the psychological and emotional issues that accompany those triggers.

Addiction Can Happen To Anyone, that's why SKT does not discriminate

Naltrexone ​

(nal·trek·sown)

​​

  • Naltrexone is a drug that blocks the effects of opioids and alcohol, substantially reducing or eliminating cravings.​

  • Naltrexone has been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of alcohol and opioid addiction; having been approved for use in more than two dozen countries.  The FDA approved the oral form of the drug for opioid addiction in 1984 and for alcohol addiction in 1994.  The monthly injectable form (Vivitrol) was approved by the FDA in 2010.​

  • Spirit Keepers produces two implants: one containing 3,600 mg of naltrexone that lasts up to 9 months and one containing 800 mg of naltrexone that last 3 to 4 months.​

  • The minimally invasive, outpatient procedure usually takes less than 20 minutes to perform.​

  • Many patients report cravings greatly reduced or eliminated within a few hours after receiving the implant. ​

  • Spirit Keepers physicians often elect the lower dose implant (800 mg), that mitigates cravings for 3-4 months over the 3,600 mg, over the  higher dose implant that works for up to 9 months.

  • Studies demonstrate the first 90 days of recovery as the​ critical period for many addicts; keeping their cravings at bay ​to allow the positive, life changing impact of behavioral therapy.​

  • Patients often prefer not to commit to a full year of naltrexone;​ opting instead for the lower dose implant (3-4 months duration ​of effect) to ‘see how it goes’; understanding that if they respond​ positively but feel they need  ongoing control of their cravings​ they can receive a 2nd or even a 3rd implant.

The Naltrexone Implant

IMG_3663.jpg

This is a quick, simple outpatient procedure done at a clinic, taking about 20 minutes, with no hospital stay needed. After the procedure, you'll have just one follow-up appointment to get your stitches removed and to ensure the area where we put the implant is healing properly.

FDA Approval Not Required

Naltrexone FDA Approved

SKT Seeks FDA Approval for implant, but not required:

 

  • Implant is compounded medication manufactured by US licensed compounding pharmacy accredited by the  PCAB (the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board)

 

  • Compounded medications don’t require FDA approval prior to marketing so long as certain conditions are met, which SKT meets

 

References

Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

 

The Compounding Quality Act, Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013 

removed certain provisions from section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) that were found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2002. 

Residential Treatment Centers (RTC): Expensive, relatively ineffective​

Patients continually relapse and repeatedly return to rehab​

​

  • Average time spent in RTC: 3 months​

  • Average cost of RTC stay:  ~$25k/month * 3 months = $75,000 ​

  • Average relapse rate: 90%​

  • Average number of RTC visits: 3 ​

  • Average Total Cost of RTC: 3 * $75,000 = $225,000​

Traditional Medical Treatment: Primarily Harm Reduction​

  • Ineffective: Methadone and Suboxone carry potential for abuse​

  • Unsustainable (opiate agonist): Replacing one addictive drug with another​

  • Adherence Challenge: Patients don’t take pills, don’t return to doctor for regular injections​

  • Expensive: High rate of recidivism means self-insured employers often pay for multiple courses of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and continue to suffer lost productivity and other employer/employment related costs

Untitled spreadsheet - Sheet1 (2) (1).png

Overall Patient Outcomes
(April 2014 to December 2016)

Mountain Ridge

Overall Patient Outcomes ​Over 30 months of Patient Program Documenting

DEFINITIONS​ Success: The patient has achieved sobriety through treatment.  While some patients may have “faltered” temporarily during treatment; they are considered successful if they are currently living a clean and sober life, to the best of our knowledge.​ Adherence: The patient attended scheduled sessions with their behavioral health provider and has made an effort to succeed regardless of outcome.  

Untitled spreadsheet - Sheet1 (1) (1).png

Patient Outcomes Over Time

12-Month Continuum of Care

image_6483441.JPG

A Collaboration of Comprehensive​

Medically Assisted Treatment

  • Medical Treatment with Spirit Keepers Propriety Naltrexone Implant Program working hand in had with Tribal Health Department (THD)​

  • Combining THD Mental Health Program with Spirit Keepers Life Coaching providing 12 month plans by combining Outpatient Life Coaching and Counseling, with IOP - Group Counseling​

  • Spiritual Treatment Approach by combining the rich tradition of the tribe with the 12 step Programs​

  • Career and Productive Life Building Skills thru Transitional Living Facilities​

  • Life Skills Training and Transition Support all coupled with continued MAT with Spirit Keepers Proprietary Naltrexone Implant

0300501172908919905691184056446.jpg
bottom of page