Drugs

From personal Struggle to Leading Recovery: ⁢Dr. Teitelbaum‘s ‌Journey and the Expanded UF recovery Center

Dr. David Teitelbaum, the ‍current director of the⁢ University of Florida’s (UF) Recovery Center, has dedicated his life ‍to helping others overcome addiction, a path forged through his own personal battle with substance use. He has maintained sobriety for 29 years,a milestone reached after‍ entering a treatment program in the 1990s.

Teitelbaum’s journey wasn’t without significant consequences. His medical license in Connecticut was revoked in 1996, a decision he recalls being driven by preventative concern ⁣from a state medical board member who stated they wouldn’t wait for a patient to be harmed before taking action. While his license was later reinstated, the loss profoundly impacted his life, ‍costing him his family, ⁣profession, and ​other vital relationships.

“Anyone who suffers from addiction usually has to ⁢hit rock bottom ⁢before​ recognizing they are not living the life⁢ they ⁣truly want‌ to live,” Teitelbaum explained.”No matter ⁤what the ‌substance is,at ⁣the end of the day,people use any⁢ substance to change the way they‌ feel in that moment.”

The UF Recovery center, where Teitelbaum ‌now leads, has a history dating back ⁢to 1998, when it ‍first opened near‌ Williston Road on Southwest 13th Street ​under the direction of Dr. Mark Gold. Recently, UF Health celebrated the ⁣opening of a new, expanded five-acre campus ​off Northwest 39th Avenue in Gainesville on‍ July ⁤16, 2024, following a groundbreaking⁢ in May ⁤of the same year.

The new facility significantly increases the ‌center’s capacity,growing from 80 ​to ⁤124 patient beds,offered in both single-⁤ and double-occupancy rooms. A 47,600-square-foot building provides residential, therapeutic,⁤ and recreational space, complete with a swimming pool, gym, outdoor recreation area, and ‍pickleball court.

An existing 18,700-square-foot administrative ⁢building houses offices offering a range of services,including addiction evaluations,individual and group therapy,lectures,and outpatient care.

Teitelbaum focuses on evaluating and treating “safety sensitive professionals” – individuals in roles requiring a high degree of public trust, such as doctors, judges, police officers, teachers, and pharmacists – from across the country. However, he emphasizes that the center welcomes⁢ individuals from all backgrounds facing​ behavioral health issues, substance use disorders, and addiction.

The UF Recovery Center uniquely positions itself as ⁤the only treatment center affiliated with an ​academic institution⁣ in the nation.

Teitelbaum notes the complexities of ​treating ‍addiction, particularly with substances like opioids, marijuana, and cocaine. ⁢ Alcoholism, he stated, remains the most prevalent addiction treated at the center and is the leading cause of death related to addiction.

“Everybody’s ⁢got a story, we​ all have a story of where we came from and of how we became who we are,” Teitelbaum saeid. “We treat ⁣a lot of people that share in common that their lives have been drastically influenced⁢ in a negative ⁣way by ‌their use of substances,but they often will have co-occurring issues like trauma,depression,anxiety and medical issues.”

Driven by his​ own experience ​and a commitment to healing,Teitelbaum expressed his ⁣hope that the UF Recovery Center will continue to be ‌a source of encouragement and‌ support for generations‌ to come.