Silver Hill Opens Pain and Addiction Center

Chronic pain and the addiction to the drugs that help alleviate it, have become a serious problem in our society. The misuse of opioid medications like oyxcondone, vicodin, and morphine can lead to serious harm and even death. a New Canaan-based psychiatric facility, recently opened the Chronic Pain and Addiction Center to help people deal with these issues.

“We have opened the center now because there is an urgent need to treat this as a dual disorder,” President and Medical Director of Silver Hill, told Patch. "Our approach is truly innovative. I am confident we will not only help our own patients, but develop a methodology that can be replicated, thereby helping others as well.”

The new facilities at Silver Hill feature classrooms, excercise areas and private rooms. Dr. Seddon R. Savage, president of the American Pain Society, has been entrusted to oversee the 28-day program to help those with chronic pain and opioid addiction.

"Patients get a comprehensive evaluation," Dr. Savage said. "They will be seen by a pain medicine specialist who will try to help them try to understand all the contributing components of their pain. Patients will get tools to help them manage their pain and we will assist them with optimum medication management."

Patients of the Chornic Pain and Addiction Center will also engage in physical education activities along with individual and group therapy sessions. Savage said the program in New Canaan is far different from other ones throughout the country.

"It really is a unique program," said Savage. "We're going to be doing a long-term outcome perspective on these patients so we can really track our numbers. We want to provide them alternative ways of managing their pain and get them into a drug-free recovery."

The 28-day programs costs between $32,000 and $44,000.