Our Symbol – The Spiral of Life

Treatment… Research… Education… Hope

The symbol of the Addiction Recovery Services program is the Spiral of Life. It is the universal symbol of spiritual growth, change and transformation with energy emanating from its center. The amethyst color symbolizes sobriety and is derived from the ancient Greek language meaning "clarity of thought."

The Problem of Substance Abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse is considered one of the largest health problems in our nation. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, alcoholism is the number one drug problem in America, with some 18 million Americans having a significant problem with alcohol. Plus, for every one person with alcoholism, it is estimated that four family members are significantly affected by the problems associated with the addiction to alcohol.

Like any serious life-threatening illness, skilled specialists are needed to diagnose and treat these patients in a specifically designed setting. The Department of Psychiatry at UH has launched an Addiction Recovery Services (ARS) program to treat adults struggling with chemical dependency. The program integrates proven research with traditional principles of recovery to address patient problems and initiate the process of healing.

About Addiction Recovery Services (ARS)

As part of the UH Department of Psychiatry, the Addiction Recovery Services group views addiction as a brain disease affecting physical, psychosocial and spiritual functioning. We are committed to providing service excellence by utilizing a holistic treatment approach tailored to meet individual patient needs.

Our clinicians are a team of Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors and Advanced Practice Nurses – each with many years of experience specializing in addiction and mental health. In addition, our affiliation with the Case Western Reserve University Medical School brings a significant academic perspective to our programs and provides opportunities for research into the nature of chemical dependency and its treatment.

Services Provided by ARS

Addiction Recovery Services offers each patient a personalized treatment plan based on a range of outpatient services that may include:

• chemical dependency evaluation
• ambulatory detoxification
• partial (day) hospitalization program
• intensive outpatient program
• individual counseling
• group therapy
• medical consultation
• patient and family education
• referral services
• special relapse prevention services
• aftercare

About Dr. Margaret Kotz, DO

Margaret Kotz, DO, Medical Director of Addiction Recovery Services has more than 20 years of experience in addiction treatment. Dr. Kotz holds certification in Addiction Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is also certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and as a Medical Review Officer (MRO) by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council.