Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services Chemical Dependence Unit Offers Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Opioid overdose deaths are a major public health problem in America. More than 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023, with 70% of those deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more deadly than heroin. One gram of fentanyl, which is equivalent to the size of a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to five hundred people.

There was a 14.5% decrease in opioid overdose deaths in 2024 due to public health measures.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services provides care and support to help people recover from opioid addiction. The department has the only medically managed detoxification unit in Queens County.

The unit, called the Chemical Dependence Unit, is a 30-bed medically managed detoxification unit that helps people safely withdraw from opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines. Under the direction of the Medical Director for Addiction Services and Unit Chief, staff includes physicians board-certified in addiction medicine, physician assistants, nurses, addiction counselors, psychotherapists, and creative arts therapists.

In addition to medical treatment such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, the unit provides nursing care, individual and group counseling, creative arts therapy, self-help groups, and, very importantly, discharge and aftercare planning to help people continue their Recovery Journey, with follow-up calls after discharge.

For additional admission information, please call the Addiction Treatment Unit at 718-670-4524.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Bariatric Surgery- What is Revision Surgery?

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bariatric or gastric bypass surgery involves making changes to the digestive system to help lose weight. It is done when diet and exercise haven’t worked or when you are at risk of serious health problems due to your weight.

Bariatric revision surgery is a broad term used to describe follow-up procedures required for all patients who previously had weight-loss surgery. These procedures are intended to make a patient’s initial weight-loss procedure more effective, to minimize unpleasant side effects, or to reverse the original surgery.

A patient may be a candidate for bariatric revision surgery for one or more of the following reasons:

Insufficient weight loss
Complications
Side effects
Weight regain
Malnutrition

Surgeons can revise an initial bariatric surgery in several ways, depending on the problems that stem from the initial surgery. The surgeons then repair, convert, or reverse that procedure.

The bariatric revision surgical procedure options that are used for the three most common types of bariatric surgery include:

Sleeve gastronomy
Gastric bypass surgery
Gastric band surgery

Bariatric revision surgery is performed to improve a patient’s health or quality of life. The procedure may encourage greater weight loss in patients whose previous surgeries didn’t lead to the expected loss of excess body weight. It may also address complications from the prior bariatric procedure, such as an ulcer or stricture, and reduce or eliminate unwanted side effects, such as swallowing difficulties or GERD.

For more information about the Bariatric Surgery Services at Flushing Hospital or procedures performed by our doctors, please call 718-408-6977 or 718-670-8908.

Mental Health Awareness Month-10 Common Signs of Mental Health Issues

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a month observed to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.

The signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances, and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect a person’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior.

10 common signs of mental health issues include:

Feeling very sad, withdrawn, or unmotivated for more than two weeks
Out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors
Not eating, throwing up, or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or weight gain
Making plans or trying to harm or kill oneself
Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Excess use of drugs or alcohol
Drastic changes in behavior, personality, or sleeping habits
Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still

Founded by Mental Health America in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental wellbeing, educating the public, reducing the stigma, and promoting support for those affected by mental health conditions.

You can help do your part by helping raise awareness and advocating for better mental health care and resources.

Hepatitis Awareness Month

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. It is a month that raises awareness of viral hepatitis in the United States.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that damages it, affecting how well it functions.

Viral hepatitis is a major public health threat, and unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States don’t know they are infected.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are vaccine-preventable, and hepatitis C can be cured.

A hepatitis A infection usually causes a mild, short-term illness. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.

Many people with the hepatitis B virus won’t experience symptoms, and similarly, many people with hepatitis C don’t look or feel sick. Left untreated, both infections can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatments are available that can delay or reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. There currently isn’t a vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but curative treatments are available. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C can be cured with just eight to 12 weeks of well-tolerated oral-only treatment. Testing is the first step.

Getting tested is the only way to know you have either virus. May 19th is observed as Hepatitis Testing Day, so it is imperative to get tested to know whether or not you are infected.

Hepatitis Awareness Month educates healthcare practitioners and the public about the importance of vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, as well as the importance of testing and treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.