The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy to Speak at the Opening of the Columbia-Smithers Addiction Treatment Program at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown
The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy to Speak at the Opening of the Columbia-Smithers Addiction Treatment Program at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown
(New York, NY – March 22, 2016) – The Columbia-Smithers Addiction Treatment Program in the The Smithers Family Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse offers a unique new option in midtown Manhattan for world class medical treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders with co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
With generous support from the Smithers Fund for Alcoholism Prevention and Recovery, the treatment program provides state of the art and compassionate care in the context of ColumbiaDoctors’ premiere psychiatric services at 51 West 51 Street. The program builds on addiction research at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), and offers integrated specialized services including psychopharmacology, medical management, rehabilitation and psychotherapy services.
The opening will be hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D., Chair of Psychiatry at CUMC, with special guest the Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the nation’s leading political voice on mental illness, addiction, and other behavioral brain diseases. Since leaving congress, Mr. Kennedy has been devoted to advocacy for brain diseases. He founded the Kennedy Forum, which is working to drive change in our health care system, and co-founded One Mind for Research, a global leader in open science collaboration in brain research.
The $7.1 million gift from the Smithers Fund for Alcoholism Prevention and Recovery, Inc. provides endowed support for clinical care, education and research in alcohol and substance abuse treatment. The Smithers family’s philanthropic efforts to fight alcohol addiction spans more than 60 years.
“The Smithers Fund for Alcoholism Prevention and Recovery, Inc., is dedicated to improving the lives of patients struggling with addiction,” said Christopher Smithers, President of the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation. “We have tremendous confidence in research and Columbia Psychiatry’s expertise in the field. Our hope is that this partnership will not only transform the lives of patients, but will also enhance care for individuals with substance abuse disorders who may or may not have co-occurring psychiatric disorders.”
“Since for many people, substance abuse begins with symptoms of a mental disorder for which they self-medicate with alcohol, recreational or prescription drugs, a unique feature of this new program is the integration of expertise to treat mental illness and addiction, as well as provide general medical management,” added Dr. Lieberman. “The fact that this program is situated at ColumbiaDoctors, and co-located with other medical specialties serves to remove the stigma associated with drug abuse clinics as well as provide ancillary medical services.”
Columbia Psychiatry is considered a leader in addiction research and treatment, and is consistently ranked in the top tier of drug and alcohol programs in the US by US News and World Report’s issue on medical schools. The Smithers gift will expand current programs and help to start innovative projects that will generate further insights on addiction and propel the field forward to meet the needs of families burdened by substance abuse.
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