Dr Garrett McGovern is Medical Director and Founder of the Priority Medical Clinic. To make an appointment, please call 01-2916153 or e-mail drmcgovern@prioritymedicalclinic.ie. If you have a query he will be happy to answer it.

NO GP REFERRAL NECESSARY

PLEASE NOTE: IN VIEW OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK VIDEO/TELEMEDICINE CONSULTATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. PLEASE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

 

Approach & Philosophy

The Priority Medical clinic is the first medically led private OUTPATIENT alcohol and drug addiction treatment programme in Ireland. Dr McGovern brings a wealth of experience having worked in the field of alcohol, drug and behavioral addiction since 1998. He started out treating heroin addiction and has continued in the opiate dependence field. In recent years opiate addiction has exploded in Ireland beyond heroin with the emergence of painkiller opiate use.

Our treatment  approach is pragmatic, evidence based, non-judgemental and individually tailored to the patient. There is a particular emphasis on improving mental , emotional and physical health and the use of cognitive behavioural therapy, individual counselling and relaxation techniques. The focus is on the individual rather than the drug and the programme is delivered in a way that reduces the stigma associated with addiction.

Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition which afflicts many families worldwide. The programme Dr McGovern has developed at the Priority Medical Clinic is evidence based and brings together the skills of specialists in addiction counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy and relaxation therapy.

This multidisciplinary collaborative approach provides patients with the best possible care in dealing with their addictions. It allows people to continue with normal life activities without impinging on important duties such as work and family life.

Drug addiction is recognized by the World Health Organisation as a chronic relapsing condition for which there is no known cure. It should be viewed no differently than other chronic medical illnesses.

The ethos of Priority Medical Clinic is one of Harm reduction, “a term which defines policies, programmes, services and actions that work to reduce the health, social and economic harms to individuals, communities and society that are associated with the use of drugs”(Newcombe 1992).

• An advanced,comprehensive and collaborative addiction recovery programme
• Emphatic and patient centered approach
• Evidence based interventions
• Provides a comfortable, safe and positive environment
• Emphasis on improving mental, emotional and physical health.
• Alcohol, drug and behavioral addiction programmes are tailored to meet individual needs.

Link to: Programmes

Research shows outpatient treatment is as successful as inpatient treatment in the management of alcohol and substance abuse. Outpatient treatment has a number of distinct advantages. It is significantly more cost effective and allows individuals to deal with their problems in their own environment. It also tends to be less stigmatising for patients who may find the inpatient setting daunting.

Remember that inpatient and outpatient treatment should not be viewed as one or the other, but rather a personal choice.  One that should be reflective of need. For example, if someone is working and wants to continue with everyday life without creating attention (particularly from their employers) it will likely be difficult to do so whilst receiving inpatient care.

Alternatively, if a person is severely dependent on alcohol (i.e. drinking very early in the morning) they may need a period under medical supervision in an inpatient facility to prevent the complications of alcohol withdrawal. The vast majority of alcohol cases can be safely treated as an outpatient.

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Link to: Case Studies

Link to: Alcohol abuse