Medication Management | Golden State Rehab

About Medication Management

What Is Medication Management?

Medication management is psychiatric care built into your treatment program. Our psychiatric team — led by board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Eric Chaghouri, MD — evaluates whether medication could help you, prescribes it when appropriate, and meets with you regularly to make sure it's working. It's one part of a plan that also includes therapy. It is never a substitute for it.

For some clients, that means medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder — like buprenorphine (Suboxone) or naltrexone. For others, it means medication for depression, anxiety, or PTSD, conditions that often travel with addiction. And sometimes it simply means a careful review of what you're already taking. Your psychiatrist and your primary therapist work from the same plan, so nothing happens in a silo.

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Private individual therapy room at Golden State Rehab

What We Offer

Medication Services at Golden State Rehab

Medications for Addiction Treatment (MOUD)

FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine/Suboxone) and alcohol use disorder (naltrexone), always paired with therapy.

Psychiatric Evaluation

Comprehensive initial assessment by our board-certified psychiatrist to evaluate mental health conditions and determine appropriate medication needs.

Medication Monitoring

Regular follow-ups to assess medication effectiveness, manage side effects, and adjust dosing as you progress through treatment.

Mental Health Medications

Management of antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and other psychiatric medications for co-occurring conditions.

Collaborative Care

Your psychiatrist communicates regularly with your therapist to ensure medications and therapy work together as an integrated treatment plan.

Medication Reconciliation

Review and coordination of any pre-existing medications to avoid interactions and optimize your overall psychiatric health.

About MOUD

Medications for Opioid & Alcohol Use Disorder

You may know the term MAT (medication-assisted treatment). The field now says MOUD — medications for opioid use disorder — because these medications aren't just an "assist." They are evidence-based treatment in their own right, and here they're always combined with counseling and group support.

According to SAMHSA and NIDA, these medications ease withdrawal and cravings, and research links them to staying in treatment longer and a lower risk of overdose death.

Fentanyl changes the picture. Because it's stronger and lingers in the body longer than other opioids, starting buprenorphine takes extra care. Our psychiatric team uses a fentanyl-aware induction — a slower, closely monitored start designed to reduce the risk of sudden withdrawal.

Buprenorphine (Suboxone) for opioid and fentanyl use disorder
Naltrexone for alcohol use disorder (also used for opioid use disorder)
Acamprosate for alcohol use disorder
Prescribed and monitored by our psychiatric team

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Group therapy room at Golden State Rehab in West Los Angeles

What to Expect

What to Expect at Your First Psychiatry Appointment

It starts with a psychiatric evaluation — a private, unhurried conversation with our psychiatric team. You'll talk through your history, what you're using or feeling now, any medications you already take, and what you want to change.

From there, you decide together whether medication belongs in your plan. Nothing is automatic and nothing is forced. A free assessment determines the level of care we recommend, and the final choice is always yours.

If you do start a medication, you'll have regular follow-up visits to track how it's working, manage side effects, and adjust the dose. Your psychiatrist shares updates with your primary therapist, so your whole team works from the same plan.

Worried about fitting appointments around work? Follow-ups are built into your program schedule, and telehealth visits are available. Your care is confidential under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 — your employer is never notified.

Reception lobby at Golden State Rehab where clients arrive for psychiatric appointments

Cost & Coverage

What Does Medication Management Cost?

Medication management is an integrated part of our PHP and IOP programs. We accept most major insurance plans, and under federal parity law and California's SB 855, health plans must cover medically necessary addiction and mental health care — which can include psychiatric visits and medication.

Coverage details vary by plan, so the honest answer starts with your specific benefits. Our admissions team checks them for free, confidentially, and with no obligation. Call (424) 208-3120 or verify your insurance online. You can also read our guide on whether insurance covers rehab in California.

Frequently Asked

Medication Management: Common Questions

Is Suboxone just trading one addiction for another?

No. Buprenorphine — the main ingredient in Suboxone — is taken at a steady, prescribed dose and does not produce the high that drugs like fentanyl or heroin do. It eases withdrawal and cravings so you can focus on therapy. SAMHSA and NIDA recognize it as an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder, and research links it to longer time in treatment and a lower risk of overdose death.

Do I have to take medication as part of my program?

No. Medication is always your choice. A free, confidential assessment helps determine the level of care that fits, and our psychiatric team walks you through the options without pressure. Some clients do well with therapy alone. Others find the right medication makes therapy work better.

Who prescribes and monitors my medication?

Our psychiatric team, led by board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Eric Chaghouri, MD. You start with a full psychiatric evaluation, then meet for regular follow-ups to check how the medication is working, watch for side effects, and adjust the dose as you progress. Your psychiatrist and your therapist stay in close communication.

Does insurance cover medication management?

In most cases, yes. Under federal parity law and California's SB 855, health plans must cover medically necessary addiction and mental health care. We accept most major insurance and verify your benefits for free — no obligation, and no one is notified.

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Paying for Treatment

We Accept Most Major Insurance Providers

Coverage varies by plan. Our admissions team verifies your exact benefits for free and explains your options honestly, without pressure.

Insurance logos are shown to help you identify your plan and are trademarks of their respective owners; they do not imply endorsement. Coverage varies by plan — verification is free and confidential.

Verify Insurance Call (424) 208-3120

Medication Management in Los Angeles