Celebrity Recovery Spotlight: Tom Holland
Tom Holland, the beloved Spider-Man star, has captured hearts with his on-screen charisma and candidness about personal challenges. Recently, he opened up about his struggle with alcohol, revealing how he felt enslaved to drinking and how his journey to recovery has transformed his life. Holland’s decision to quit drinking has inspired many, demonstrating the strength ...
Spectrum Recognizes National Recovery Month
Every September, National Recovery Month honors the resilience of individuals in recovery and the dedication of those who provide support and services along the way. Established in 1989, National Recovery Month promotes public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery while providing a platform for success stories that can inspire and offer hope to others ...
Board Member Spotlight: Dr. John Renner
Spectrum Health Systems is honored to spotlight Dr. John Renner, a distinguished board member whose extensive background in addiction psychiatry and unwavering commitment to mental health make him a vital part of Spectrum's mission. A Groundbreaking Legacy John Renner's dedication to addiction psychiatry began in the early 1970s when he took a pioneering role at ...
Women in Recovery: A Spotlight on Kim Patterson
Kim Patterson's story is an inspiring testament to the power of human resilience. Her path through addiction recovery has equipped her with a profound understanding of substance use disorder (SUD) and a fierce dedication to empowering women on their own journeys to healing. From Struggles to Strength Kim's experiences with SUD began at a young ...
Spectrum Health Systems Announces Five New Leadership Appointments
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., an innovative non-profit provider of evidence-based treatment for substance use and mental health disorders throughout Massachusetts, announced today new personnel and an expansion of leadership. Frank Hight, Ray Semidei, Katrina Casey, Stefania Cunningham and Kathleen Wise will be instrumental in the delivery of the provider’s continuum of care services and its ...
Addressing Racial Disparity in the Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic has ravaged communities across the United States, but the crisis disproportionately impacts the Black population. While overdose deaths have increased for all groups, the rate among Black Americans is particularly alarming, with significantly higher numbers and faster growth compared to other demographics. A Spike in Black Overdose Deaths Recent CDC (Centers for ...
What’s It Like to Work in Addiction Treatment?
Are you interested in working with individuals with substance use and/or mental health disorder? Seeing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder can make this profession appear daunting, however it can also be incredibly rewarding. Following a career path into addiction treatment and behavioral health, you’ll find yourself among a community dedicated to providing unwavering support. ...
Celebrity Recovery Spotlight: Tom Holland
Tom Holland, the beloved Spider-Man star, has captured hearts with his on-screen charisma and candidness about personal challenges. Recently, he opened up about his struggle with alcohol, revealing how he felt enslaved to drinking and how his journey to recovery has transformed his life. Holland’s decision to quit drinking has inspired many, demonstrating the strength ...
Spectrum Recognizes National Recovery Month
Every September, National Recovery Month honors the resilience of individuals in recovery and the dedication of those who provide support and services along the way. Established in 1989, National Recovery Month promotes public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery while providing a platform for success stories that can inspire and offer hope to others ...
Board Member Spotlight: Dr. John Renner
Spectrum Health Systems is honored to spotlight Dr. John Renner, a distinguished board member whose extensive background in addiction psychiatry and unwavering commitment to mental health make him a vital part of Spectrum's mission. A Groundbreaking Legacy John Renner's dedication to addiction psychiatry began in the early 1970s when he took a pioneering role at ...
Get to Know Kristin Nolan, Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Having started as a clinician in 2000, Kristin Nolan has deep roots with Spectrum Health Systems. Early on, she found the clinical work rewarding, but over time she began to feel like she could have a broader impact in the addiction treatment field by focusing her efforts on the operations side of things. Now serving ...
The Shifting Landscape of Telehealth Addiction Treatment
As the United States government searches for leverage in the battle against the opioid epidemic, several recent developments have altered the way medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as buprenorphine, can be prescribed. While some of these changes have increased accessibility to buprenorphine, others threaten to hinder access. With opioid overdoses continuing at a ...
Improving Outcomes for Pregnant People with Substance Use Disorders
When someone with a substance use disorder becomes pregnant, their circumstances can become complicated. They may be faced with decisions that they hadn’t anticipated, and the road ahead could be lined with physical and emotional challenges. But as with any other population, pregnant people have a right to recovery. And, despite the stigma and added ...
Spectrum Health Systems Debuts Mobile Treatment Service Van
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a longtime not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts, today announced the launch of its mobile treatment service, the first in the state to offer all three medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) – methadone, suboxone and vivitrol. “While several barriers to treatment access remain for those ...
Acknowledging Health Equity Pioneers
In observance of Black History Month, Spectrum Health Systems is honoring some of the people who have improved access to care and worked to address treatment disparities affecting the Black community. Just as the Black community has faced economic and educational injustices, it has also faced healthcare inequalities. In the time of Jim Crow segregation, ...
Nicole Orlando Smith Discusses Her Return to Spectrum
Nicole Orlando Smith applied for a role at Spectrum Health Systems on a whim in 2014. She had comprehensive experience working in mental health—addressing issues like depression and anxiety after earning a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on trauma—but she had no direct experience in addiction recovery. “I was very green, ...

