WESTON, W.Va. – As well as being a family physician, Bruce Gorby, DO, began offering addiction treatment in 2019, and was certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventative Medicine. Today, he has devoted his practice fulltime to the Mon Health Recovery Care Program at a clinic next to Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital on Route 33, west of Weston.

Considering the epidemic of substance abuse in this area, his addiction practice is essential in the community. There was a confirmed total of 1,275 drug overdose deaths in 2020 compared to 878 fatalities in 2019 in West Virginia. The pandemic has accelerated the fatalities not only in WV, but nationwide.

“In January 2021, my certification in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine was received,” said Dr. Gorby. “My work then became devoted to treating and learning more about substance use disorders. Fortunately, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital has given me the opportunity to continue this mission at the Weston campus.”

As well as treating addiction, Dr. Gorby noted that another of his goals is to combat the stigma. He encourages people to be aware that addiction needs to be treated like the chronic disease that it is. Dr. Gorby is able to provide help at a local level, and many times Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance will provide coverage, but the office clarifies that no one is turned away for inability to pay.

“We are open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday,” Dr. Gorby noted. “Currently we offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment for all types of addiction including alcohol and gambling, as well as opioid and other addictions.” 

In addition to Dr. Gorby’s Addiction Medicine, the hospitals of the Mon Health System including Grafton City Hospital have created the Mon Health Recovery Care Program. Mon Health Medical Center, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Grafton City Hospital and Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital provide support and services at the Emergency Room with a peer recovery program. These hospitals have peer recovery coaches available for patients in the ER who screen for substance use. Mon Health Medical Center and Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital also provide an Overdose Survivors Outreach Program (OSOP) Coach who helps those patients in the community. In addition to a Reverse the Cycle program, Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital has also opened a recovery care clinic which follows the Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment (COAT) model.

For more information about the program at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, call 304-884-8941. To learn more about Mon Health, visit MonHealth.com.