Outcomes Detox and Recovery Center sits at the far end of a medical complex on east Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, a 24-bed facility whose operators say it is an underutilized but much-needed part of the community.
The facility treats all forms of addiction, from alcohol to prescription opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. It accepts patients from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande Valley to Laredo based on hospital and self-referrals.
Clinical Director Rick Ibarra said the simple fact of Brownsville’s proximity to the border makes the need for such a facility extreme.
“It’s beyond belief,” Ibarra said Wednesday. “Especially with opioids and benzos. All you’ve got to do is walk across the bridge, tape the pills into your body and come back.. … it’s just ridiculous the amount of drugs that they can consume. I think the more aware we can make the community the better.”
Yet Outcomes takes in just two to three clients per week, Ibarra said. That’s because participation in the treatment offered is strictly voluntary.
Dr. Jorge Guevara, Outcomes founder and medical director, said the facility takes a holistic approach to treatment.
“Wer’e trying to give medications for patients that have suffered alcohol (or drug) dependence,” he said. “We give counseling, also group therapy, family therapy and also we suggest Alcoholics Anonymous. We recommend the patient follow up with the doctor after 30 days of residential treatment, counseling, and still continue to go to AA meetings.
“Because this is a long term disease, we need to look at substance abuse and especially alcoholism as a long term disease like having diabetes, heart disease, or hypertension. It’s the same issues,” he said.
Without drugs to discourage the person from using again, the chance of successfully quitting drugs or alcohol is about 10%, Guevara said. With drugs such as antabuse, naltrexone or acamprosate, the chances rise to 70%, even 80% or 90%, he said.
Outcomes has been in operation four years. It has a companion clinic on South Padre Island.
Guevara also founded RGV Day and Night Clinic, Medical Associates of Brownsville and SPI Clinic. He also said substance abuse plays a role in mass shootings.
“In many mass shootings, all of them as far as I know, they have mental health issues and substance abuse issues,” he said.
Marilena Esparza, mental health therapist, said the main question she gets is how to recognize when drinking has become a problem.
“But once we recognize (alcoholism or drug addiction) “it’s something we don’t want to test ever again,” she said.
Carrie Matledge, substance abuse counselor, said once a person has accepted their addiction, the trick is to “grow as people. I mean they have to keep doing something positive so that they aren’t unhappy about their condition,” she said.
“I usually stress that it’s about finding your inner passion,” Esparza said. “It’s about finding something that you can substitute that you really enjoy to replace that sense of emptiness.”
Esparza said about 75% of the clients at Outcomes are there to beat alcoholism, followed by cocaine addiction at No.2. She said many people turn to alcohol because it is legal and socially acceptable.
Ibarra said drinking, socially and otherwise, is pretty much baked into the Mexican culture.
“Here in the Valley, growing up, you’re taught to drink and be a man and don’t ask for help,” he said, adding that he was raised that way. “That’s the norm. (Guys say) ‘I only drink a 12 pack a day. I still go to work the next day. Why would I ask for help? That’s not an alcoholic, sorry.’
“People don’t know because it’s part of the culture, it’s engraved in our system. Everything you do, the baptisms, the birthday parties the quinceañeras, the weddings … drinking is included. All those things are a factor,” he said.
Ibarra also said the Valley needs to recognize all of the problems that stem from alcohol abuse
“We need to educate the lawmakers, politicians that this is their community and it has a problem,” he said. “(Cameron County Sheriff) Eric Garza was super receptive to us … the legal system hasn’t figured out yet that they’re throwing people in jail that don’t deserve to be there, first-time offenders, second time. Its a medical problem. It’s not just in our head.”
