WGN News Chicago | June 2024

Did you know, according to the National Center for PTSD, 46.4% of adults with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) also meet the criteria for a substance use disorder? This underscores the importance of trauma-informed care in supporting sustained recovery and healing. During PTSD Awareness Month, Jim Scarpace, Chief Clinical Officer at Gateway Foundation, joined WGN News to discuss why it’s critical to address both PTSD and substance use disorder simultaneously with an integrated, trauma-responsive treatment model.

“We know that in order for healing to take place, people have to be able to share their stories,” said Scarpace. “What’s most important is that people access treatment as soon as possible. At Gateway, we call that developing a trauma-responsive approach … developing a treatment plan that will address both their trauma disorder and their substance disorder simultaneously.”

If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, substance use disorder, or both, contact us today.

WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 | June 2024

June is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. Mercedes Kent, Program Director at Gateway Foundation, joined ABC NewsChannel 20’s Addicted Illinois segment to bring attention to the complexities of this mental health disorder.

It’s not uncommon to have a co-occurring diagnosis of PTSD and substance use disorder.  46.4% of adults with PTSD also meet criteria for a substance use disorder, according to the National Center for PTSD. This disorder can mimic anxiety and depression and its symptoms are exasperated when combined with substance use.

“It may be a temporary relief to get rid of those feelings or to block them out,” says Kent. “But then in the long term, it just begins that cyclic event of substance use to try and cope with those feelings.”

It’s critical to address both PTSD and substance use disorder simultaneously with an integrated treatment model, which is provided at Gateway Foundation. We now offer stand-alone mental health treatment as well, so if you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD contact us today.

Gateway Foundation, the former operator of the historic Beacon House, one of the first treatment centers for substance use disorders in the western United States, located in Pacific Grove, California, today announced that $2 million in funds from the sale of its property are now available to provide grants to organizations with similar missions and to establish further services in the community.   

Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Beacon House ceased operations in 2021 but remains committed to supporting health and wellness initiatives in Monterey County community.

Beacon House, a beacon of hope for individuals and families facing challenges related to substance use disorder and mental health, served as a vital resource center providing residential treatment, counseling, outpatient support groups, educational workshops, and other essential services. While the doors are not currently open, the legacy of Beacon House lives on through the opportunity to make a lasting impact on health and wellness across Monterey County.

“We are pleased to announce that some funds from the sale of the Beacon House property will be used to support non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting health and wellness from substance use disorders,” said Jeremy Klemanski, President and CEO of Beacon House and its parent organization Gateway Foundation. “Although Beacon House operations have ceased, our commitment to improving health remains unwavering. We believe these grants will continue to serve the Monterey community in meaningful ways.”

Nonprofit organizations with missions aligned with the former Beacon House are encouraged to apply for grant funding. Priority will be given to initiatives focused on providing treatment for substance use disorder, co-occurring mental health, education, advocacy, and outreach to underserved populations.

“We recognize the importance of ongoing support for wellness initiatives, especially in light of current challenges,” said Klemanski. “By investing in organizations with similar purposes, we aim to continue Beacon House’s mission of fostering healing, resilience, and hope in our community.”

Interested organizations can find more information about the grant application process and eligibility criteria on the Beacon House webpage gatewayfoundation.org/beaconhouse. Applications will be accepted starting May 24, 2024.

For inquiries or further information, please contact Ave Costa, Director of Development, Gateway Foundation at acosta@gatewayfoundation.org.

About Beacon House: Beacon House, acquired by Gateway Foundation in 2018 was a nonprofit substance use disorder and mental health support facility located in Pacific Grove, CA dedicated to promoting wellness and providing resources for individuals and families. Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Beacon House ceased operations in 2021 largely as a result of the COVID pandemic, but continues to support health and wellness initiatives related to substance use disorders through grant funding opportunities.

About Gateway: Gateway Foundation provides evidence-based substance use disorder and mental health disorder treatment services in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming. Gateway Foundation also provides non-profit support services in California. For over 55 years, Gateway Foundation clinicians have helped more than a million patients achieve a life of recovery, or reduced substance use, while also treating co-occurring mental health disorders. Gateway Foundation supports people’s post-treatment to help them pursue healthier lives. Over 40,000 people per year utilize Gateway Foundation services, impacting more than 100,000 family and friends annually. www.gatewayfoundation.org

About Beacon House:

Beacon House, acquired by Gateway Foundation in 2018 was a nonprofit substance use disorder and mental health support facility located in Pacific Grove, CA dedicated to promoting wellness and providing resources for individuals and families. Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Beacon House ceased operations in 2021 largely as a result of the COVID pandemic, but continues to support health and wellness initiatives related to substance use disorders through grant funding opportunities.

About Gateway Foundation:

Gateway Foundation provides evidence-based substance use disorder and mental health disorder treatment services in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming. Gateway Foundation also provides non-profit support services in California. For over 55 years, Gateway Foundation clinicians have helped more than a million patients achieve a life of recovery, or reduced substance use, while also treating co-occurring mental health disorders. Gateway Foundation supports people’s post-treatment to help them pursue healthier lives. Over 40,000 people per year utilize Gateway Foundation services, impacting more than 100,000 family and friends annually. www.gatewayfoundation.org

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Robert Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, Gateway Foundation, rmiller@gatewayfoundation.org

WGN-TV Daytime Chicago | May 2024

Gateway Foundation’s Chief Clinical Officer, Jim Scarpace, joined Amy Rutledge on WGN Daytime Chicago to discuss co-occurring mental health disorders during Mental Health Awareness Month.

This Mental Health Awareness Month we want to remind you that if you struggle with a mental health disorder you are not alone. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 adults suffer from a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or a trauma disorder. Many people with substance use disorder struggle with co-occurring mental health disorders and vice versa. At Gateway Foundation, we use an integrated care model to treat disorders concurrently. Learn more about our comprehensive recovery plans in this news segment.

The first step towards recovery is reaching out to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, call our 24/7 helpline: 877-505-4673(HOPE).

Addicted Illinois WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 | May 2024

In this Gateway-sponsored segment of Addicted Illinois, WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 reporters talk to experts about concerns regarding the ease of access to illicit pills. Technology is making it easier than ever to buy illegal drugs online. According to the DEA, obtaining illicit pills is just as easy as ordering Uber Eats. One common method for buying illegal drugs online is through gaming platforms like Xbox. This is particularly alarming because the DEA says 22 American teenagers die every week due to illegal drug use. The DEA has requested funding to send 13 agents to Mexico to stop deadly drugs such as fentanyl from being sold online and shipped into the United States.

Help is available if you, or a loved one, are seeking treatment for substance use disorder. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 877-505-4673(HOPE).

WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 | May 2024

May is recognized as national Mental Health Awareness Month. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental health disorder and only half of those people receive treatment. This is a month to destigmatize mental health disorders so that those struggling might feel more comfortable asking for help to achieve mental wellness. Learn how to support those struggling with mental health disorders in this ABC NewsChannel 20 interview with Mercedes Kent, Program Director at Gateway Foundation. If you’re struggling with your mental health, call our 24/7 helpline: 855-925-GATE (4283).

WGN-TV Daytime Chicago | April 2024

Jim Scarpace, Chief Clinical Officer at Gateway Foundation, joined WGN-TV’s Daytime Chicago to shed light on alcohol use disorder during Alcohol Awareness Month.

Have you heard of the term alcohol blindness? Sometimes, because alcohol use is so prevalent in our society, we don’t realize the impact alcohol use disorder has on those who struggle with it. This month, and every month, we encourage you to learn how to spot the signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder.

In this interview, Jim Scarpace discusses what to look out for, treatment options, triggers, and more. Gateway Foundation can help treat both the physical and psychological components of alcohol use disorder.

“It can feel like it’s taking away your dreams, it can feel like it’s taking away your goals, it can feel like it’s interfering with your ability to have these healthy relationships you want,” says Scarpace. “And at Gateway Foundation we can help you get those things back because we’ve treated thousands of people successfully for alcohol use disorder.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use disorder, call 877-505-4673(HOPE) to learn more about your options. 

Addicted Illinois with AJ Gersh, WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 | April 2024

Mercedes Kent, Program Director at Gateway Foundation, joined AJ Gersh’s latest Addicted Illinois segment to spread awareness about the dangers of excessive drinking.

“It’s more commonplace because its legal,” says Kent, “We use it socialize, comfort, cope. However, it is the leading preventable disease.”

We encourage you to think about your drinking habits this April during Alcohol Awareness Month. Ask yourself – is alcohol causing problems at home? At work? Is drinking becoming a coping mechanism rather than something you use to celebrate?  If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol use, reach out to Gateway Foundation and take the first step towards recovery. Call us at 877-505-HOPE(4673) to speak to a care advocate.

WGN-TV Daytime Chicago | March 2024

Did you know that excessive alcohol use leads to more deaths annually than opioid use? Marc Turner, Community Division President at Gateway Foundation, spoke with Daytime Chicago host Amy Rutledge to spread awareness about the dangers of alcohol use disorder and different treatment options for recovery. To learn more about Gateway Foundation’s full continuum of care for alcohol use disorder, reach out to us at 877-505-HOPE(4673). Read the full transcript below:

Daytime Chicago: Daytime Chicago is sponsored by Gateway foundation. While opioid use tends to dominate many people’s attention, deaths from excessive alcohol use far outpace the number of deaths from opioid and other drugs. Gateway foundation can help those struggling with alcohol use. I spoke with community division president Mark Turner to see how they can help.

Recently, the CDC released a study that showed that alcohol deaths have risen about 29% so significantly. And they’ve also shown that they’re higher year in and year out than opioid deaths. And part of what is difficult to understand about the alcohol deaths is only about a third of those are related to an accident or an injury. About two thirds of those happen across a long span of time where the alcohol has a lot of impact on health in their liver, their cardiovascular system, and in other areas of health.

We saw a number of people drinking a lot more during the pandemic. Now the pandemic is over. So did the problem continue post pandemic? Is that what we’re seeing?

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: Well, I’ve been in this business a long time. I have dealt with this a lot. Alcohol has been the one substance that almost regardless, is always highly used. And I do think that folks that develop some really bad coping skills around alcohol use during the pandemic, some of them have shed those skills, but a lot of those folks are continuing to use and use in higher quantities alcohol. Like other drugs, the more that you use it, the less effect you get. So in order to get the effect, you have to consume more. And then obviously, that has a lot of health implications for people.

Daytime Chicago: It also seems that people don’t realize how sneaky alcohol can be, how quickly your consumption can creep up on you and what levels are dangerous or different for so many people.

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: Well, you know, there are long term use that has an effect. Binge drinking has a lot of effect on your health system as well. And, you know, we find that a lot of people during the pandemic became daily drinkers, and some of them became daily binge drinkers.

Daytime Chicago: How fast does that send your health downhill? I’m assuming for a man, it’s a woman.

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: It varies from person to person. It depends upon what other co occurring physical health problems you have. If you have diabetes, alcohol is not your friend in any way, shape or form. If you’ve got hypertension, if you’ve got other diseases, alcohol can certainly exacerbate those and make those worse.

Daytime Chicago: I imagine someone who is dealing with a disorder feels like they are in a bit of coming out of that has got to be very difficult and then there’s stigma with it. And how can you guys help?

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: So one of the things that’s really important about alcohol is that quitting cold turkey can be a danger to your health because you can have withdrawal seizures. So really, if you are a heavy alcohol user, you need professional help from somebody like Gateway foundation, where we can help you monitor your health, provide for safe withdrawal from alcohol, and then begin the process of planning what is a recovery journey for you? What does life look like for you in the future? Where can you refind joy and connection with the world, your family and the people around you?

Daytime Chicago: How do you know it’s gotten to be a problem? Is that where gateway can evaluate you?

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: We can certainly evaluate you and help you. Most people who have an alcohol use disorder have a lot of denial and kind of blindness to where the problems are. Certainly if somebody in your life tells you that they think you have a problem, your problem is probably even greater than you think.

Daytime Chicago: So if you get to that point and you reach out to gateway for help, you folks have a number of different treatments. So it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in a facility or you’re not.

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: We have a full continuum of care, so people can get withdrawal management and detox. They can get residential care. We have outpatient care. We also have virtual programs. The thing that’s most important is that we want to match our program to where you are on your journey. Certainly the earlier that you get to us, you may be able to be treated at less restrictive level of care. But for people who may be consuming very large amounts of alcohol, they are going to probably need some more intensive services.

Daytime Chicago: And can loved ones reach out to you guys for advice as well?

Marc Turner, Gateway Foundation: Absolutely. We’re available to prospective patients. We’re prospective patients, their families, and certainly we are a significant community resource with having a very big presence here in the Chicago area.

Daytime Chicago: All right, if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can reach out to Gateway foundation. The number is on your screen, or find them online@gatewayfoundation.org.