BRENTWOOD, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Spero Health, a national leader in outpatient addiction treatment and a
CARF-accredited organization that specializes in local, affordable,
outpatient care for individuals suffering from substance use disorders,
announced the opening of a new clinic in Chattanooga, located at 7030
Lee Highway, Suite 201. The Chattanooga clinic is the organization’s 26^th
outpatient location and is expected to start seeing new patients at the
end of June. Appointments are available now, and individuals are
encouraged to call (423) 301-5930 or stop by the Lee Highway location
for more information.

The opening of the Chattanooga clinic comes at a critical time as Spero
Health meets the growing demand for a local, high-quality and affordable
option to treat addiction. Spero Health accepts TennCare and
participates with select commercial insurance plans so that individuals
suffering can seek help immediately without the cost barrier to
treatment.

Spero Health has appointed Dr. Lisa Fara, who is fellowship trained in
Addiction Medicine, as the Chattanooga medical director. She joins the
organization with an extensive background focused on substance use
disorders, treatment and prevention, and will be the lead physician at
this new location. After many years of practicing as a board-certified
family physician, Dr. Fara furthered her knowledge and proficiency by
completing a fellowship in Addiction Medicine, qualifying her to provide
comprehensive and experienced addiction medical care to patients through
such modalities as medical detoxification and medication-assisted
therapy, as well as ongoing, in-depth addiction care for patients in
both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Dr. Fara describes the disease of addiction as an “individual,
desperate, internal struggle that each patient (and their loved ones)
experiences,” and she cites the current definition of addiction put
forth by ASAM: “Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward,
motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits
leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual
manifestations.”

Data released by the Tennessee Department of Health shows deaths from
overdoses have been steadily increasing year after year as the opioid
epidemic grips the nation. Chattanooga is ranked 20th among the worst 25
cities in the U.S. for opioid prescription abuse. The state has expanded
resources to address the epidemic, and leaders from Spero Health believe
they can be part of the solution as there is a considerable need for
high-quality treatment providers locally.

“Tennessee communities have been hit extremely hard by the drug
epidemic, and the landscape of the types of drugs individuals are using
is changing rapidly,” said Steve Priest, CEO of Spero Health. “We have
heard from payors, state officials and healthcare partners about the
need for access to quality care close to home, and are committed to
bringing local, affordable and comprehensive solutions to communities
across the state that can meet the needs of those struggling with opioid
addiction and other substances,” Priest added.

Dr. Fara added, “We are deeply aware that not treating addiction
appropriately has dire ripple effects in our local and national
communities. Our most current scientific and evidenced-based knowledge
regarding effective addiction treatment tells us that this disease
requires comprehensive, sustained and collaborative medical and
psychosocial therapeutics. The community-based options that Spero Health
offers — with the utilization of multiple modalities including
medication, recovery support services and focused addiction and related
counseling strategically — position the organization to better help
patients successfully manage their chronic condition.”

For more information about Spero Health please visit www.sperohealth.com.

About Spero Health

Spero Health, Inc., is an integrated healthcare services organization
specializing in local and affordable outpatient care for individuals
suffering from substance use disorders with a mission to “Save Lives,
Instill Hope, and Restore Relationships.” Spero Health utilizes an
innovative evidenced-based integrated care model that combines both
physical and behavioral healthcare services under one roof to treat the
whole patient. This integrated care model combines physician services
(including medication-assisted treatment), behavioral health counseling,
recovery support services, medication management and patient and family
education. Its community-based approach to treatment allows patients to
continue working and caring for their families as they overcome
addiction.

Based in Nashville, Tenn. and privately held by Heritage Group, Health
Velocity Capital, South Central, Inc. and Frist Cressey Ventures, Spero
Health operates 26 freestanding outpatient clinics located throughout
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Providing care for more than
5,600 patients each month, Spero is one of the largest office-based
opioid treatment providers in the country and is in network with
Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans.

For more information about Spero Health, please visit www.sperohealth.com.

Contacts

Ginger Jackson
Spero Health
[email protected]
(859)
209-2296