The doctor is IN!

At The Bridge, we see people at all stages of their substance use disorder, from actively intoxicated through withdrawal to treatment and recovery. While each stage requires compassion and caring, one stage in particular often requires more – the medical expertise of a doctor.

Thanks to a multi-year grant from the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln, The Bridge’s clients in our withdrawal program can now be seen by a medical doctor! Dr. Sarah Castillo, a family practitioner from People’s Health Center, has set up an office at The Bridge and is seeing The Bridge’s withdrawal clients two hours each day during the work week.

Individuals in the delicate stage of withdrawal often face symptoms of nausea, anxiety or sleeplessness and can also suffer tremors or even seizure. Some individuals who enter the program come with untreated medical issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes or infections.

While our registered nurses were able to provide some medications for withdrawal symptoms, they couldn’t prescribe medications. Now, Dr. Castillo can not only prescribe medications but can see them for follow-up care while the client is at The Bridge and at her office at People’s Health Center.

Dr. Castillo, a Chadron, Neb., native, studied medicine so she could help this particular population. “These individuals are close to my heart,” she said. “I had addiction in my family and came from a lower economic status. I want to help people get past the psycho-social barriers they are facing.”

Dr. Castillo started at The Bridge on September 1 and is already seeing patients follow-up with her at People’s Health Center. “They will need outside resources in addition to medical and behavioral health care,” she said. Thanks to her work at both The Bridge and People’s Health Center, Dr. Castillo is able to provide an advanced continuum of care to those with addictions.