CleanSlate Responds to Shortage of Physicians Trained in Addiction Medicine with New Center Opening

WAUKESHA, WI--(Marketwired - January 03, 2018) - CleanSlate Centers, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol addiction, today announced the opening of a new center to meet the need for doctors specializing in opioid addiction treatment. The new office-based center, located at 20611 Watertown Rd. in Waukesha, Wisconsin, began seeing patients last week.

Opioid related overdose deaths more than tripled in Wisconsin from 194 in 2003 to 622 deaths in 2014. The number of Wisconsin citizens who die as a result of drug overdose now exceeds the number of those who die from motor vehicle crashes, as well as suicide, breast cancer, colon cancer, firearms, influenza or HIV. Prescription opioid pain relievers contributed to about one-half of the total drug overdose deaths and heroin contributes to about one-third. Wisconsin also faces a shortage of doctors fully focused on addiction medicine.¹ Those who seek help for addiction are often placed on a waiting list to see a physician trained in addiction medicine.²

"Our goal at CleanSlate is to bring proven medication-assisted programs and medical teams uniquely trained to treat addiction to communities like Waukesha that are being devastated by the opioid epidemic," said Gregory Marotta, President and CEO of CleanSlate Centers. "Medication-assisted treatment saves lives, as we've seen through successfully treating thousands of patients across the country in the communities that we serve."

Thanks in large part to the leadership of Representative John Nygren, the Wisconsin State Legislature has passed a number of bills signed into law by Governor Scott Walker to combat the epidemic, called the HOPE Agenda.

"CleanSlate is looking forward to working with Wisconsin's elected officials and community leaders to fight the opioid epidemic and deliver life-saving medical treatment," said Nasser Hajaig, M.D., Western Division Medical Director for CleanSlate. "It's going to take all of us working together to beat the terrible cycle of addiction."

CleanSlate is making a big difference in the battle against the epidemic of addiction, treating 26,000 patients and counting, saving one valued life at a time. CleanSlate's program of care -- which includes appropriate medication-assisted treatment prescribed by trained medical providers, with clear accountability and supportive counseling -- sets the group apart from other treatment models. CleanSlate works with most insurance providers, including Medicaid. For information about the Waukesha center, please call 262-901-4450 or visit http://www.cleanslatecenters.com. To schedule an appointment at the Waukesha center, please call 833-505-HOPE.

About CleanSlate Centers

A pioneer and leader in outpatient addiction medicine, CleanSlate Centers is a national medical group which provides treatment for the chronic disease of addiction, primarily opioid and alcohol use disorders. Founded in 2009 in response to the growing opioid epidemic facing the country, the company operates a growing network of physician-led, office-based addiction treatment centers, where patients who suffer from opioid or alcohol addiction can receive medication-assisted treatment and related therapies using the highest quality, evidence-based practices. CleanSlate currently has a national footprint of 38 centers in eight states, with more centers opening every month to meet the demand for the company's services. For more information, please visit CleanSlateCenters.com.

¹ Combatting Opioid Abuse: A Report to Governor Scott Walker. 2016. https://hope.wi.gov/Documents/ReportOnCombatingOpioidAbuse.pdf. Accessed 12.13.17.

² http://www.wbay.com/content/news/Heroin-epidemic-drives-need-for-addiction-specialists-415616933.html. Accessed 12.18.17.