AVA, Mo. (July 28, 2025) – Missouri Ozarks Community Health is excited to announce the start of its substance use disorder treatment program on August 1. The program will provide medication and behavioral health therapy for substance use disorders, primarily opioid use disorders. Dr. Matthew Brown will oversee the program. Treatment will be provided by Michelle Marcak, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and Angela Sutton, a licensed professional counselor. “We have a great team assembled for this program, which is the first of its kind in Ava,” said Randall Gann, CEO of Missouri Ozarks. The program will also be staffed with a nurse and a community health worker, who will help connect patients to resources.
Patients will not need to be a current patient of Missouri Ozarks Community Health, and they will not need to be referred to the program. The substance use program will accept walk-in patients and same-day appointments. “We want our providers to be available to patients the moment that they decide to seek treatment,” said Jennifer Heinlein, chief operations officer of Missouri Ozarks. “Our research shows that’s what can make a program like this successful.” Patients will undergo an evaluation of their substance abuse problems, as well as their general medical status. Treatment options will be presented depending on where the patient is in the use, the withdrawal or recovery process.
Dr. Brown said we must acknowledge the widespread problem of substance abuse. “It’s not just confined to marginalized populations,” said Dr. Brown. “Some studies show that about half of U.S. adults have a friend or family member with addictions, and about one in four children have at least one parent with a substance abuse problem.” He said he believes the treatment program at Ava will make a very real difference. “We’re excited to roll out these resources to help people get their lives and families back, reduce the legal and social impacts of substance abuse and to build a stronger community,” said Dr. Brown.
Missouri Ozarks Community Health is a federally qualified health center established in 1996. Missouri Ozarks serves the counties of Douglas, Wright, Texas and Ozark. Various services are offered at clinics, including primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health care, prenatal care and pediatric care.
View Press Release here >> https://www.ky3.com/2025/07/30/missouri-ozarks-community-health-begins-substance-use-disorder-treatment-program/
