Tulane Doctors Addiction Recovery Clinic plays an essential role in supporting the recovery journeys of many in the New Orleans community and hopes to spread awareness of their life-changing programs to many more in need. The center houses addiction recovery specialists like Dr. Smita Prasad. Dr. Prasad is working to educate the community and destigmatize the disease of addiction in order to help more people get access to treatment.
“I treat addiction, which is a brain disease that’s chronic, relapsing, and progressive, not a moral failure. I haven’t had a patient who had woken up and said that they decided they wanted to become addicted to fentanyl, this is really not how it works. So I treat people with compassion and empathy. And I think that’s really important.”
Dr. Prasad’s holistic approach to treating addiction has helped many individuals on the road to recovery, including Michael Vernado, a retired Law Enforcement officer and author. We had the opportunity to hear Michael’s powerful story, and he hopes that sharing his experience will encourage other individuals to reach out for help. “That’s exactly why I’m doing this, for Dr. Prasad, in an effort to help people. I want to help people.”
Michael’s journey to addiction recovery began when he reached a significant turning point in his life—a moment of realization that sparked the desire to make a change.
“Three years ago, I started to say this ain’t gonna work. I couldn’t get enough drugs… I was in withdrawals. I had no life at this point, I was worrying about that week when I wouldn’t have any drugs and I knew how bad it was gonna be… like the flu multiplied by about 10.”
“My family, my son and my daughter, called an ambulance and they put me at Tulane University, thank God.” Says Michael, who had previously committed himself to several institutions for treatment before coming to Tulane. “I committed myself every time; I think that was the third time at Tulane, and that one took.”
Recovery is different for everyone, so seeking treatment and guidance from a trusted healthcare professional like Dr. Prasad can increase the likelihood of success. Each individual will face unique challenges in the process of recovering from addiction. According to Dr. Prasad, how a person deals with and overcomes these challenges is what matters most. Michael, like many others, encountered adversity during his journey toward recovery, and it was his resilience, self-efficacy, and determination to stay sober that helped him to overcome it.
“I’ve had the death of my wife since I recovered. Forty years later, I was married to her. That was tough…She was sick for a long, long time, and I thought I was prepared as much as I could be… it was still really hard, but through it, Dr. Prasad helped me. I didn’t relapse.”
In addition to the support he’s received from Dr. Prasad with maintaining his sobriety and mental health, Michael has also noticed vast improvements happening in other areas of his life. As a result of his recovery, the quality of his relationships with himself, other people, and the world around him has improved significantly. Michael now enjoys living on his homestead in Franklinton, Louisiana with his family.
“Thanks to Dr. Prasad, I just got a natural life, just a good life. I’m happy to be alive and I’m happy to be able to grow my garden. I’m happy to be able to meet people and smile and talk and enjoy it, you know.”
The journey to recovery is not easy; the most challenging part for many people is simply taking that first step. Michael has a message for anyone who is hesitant,
“Don’t put it off. Get a family member if you need to… not tomorrow. Do it today. Call her office, make your appointment and get your butt in there.”
“No one can recover alone,” says Dr. Prasad, “So we’re here, we have services, and we will try our best to connect you. We have very compassionate, empathetic doctors available to help when people are ready.”
For more information on the Tulane Doctors Addiction Recovery Clinic, please call 504-988-7250.
