University Psychiatric Centers - Jefferson Research Clinic

The Jefferson Avenue Research Clinic (JARC) began delivering services in 1995 as a site within UPC. JARC is an outpatient substance abuse clinic providing both drug-free and pharmaco-therapies to the residents of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan. (see organization chart)

Treating opiate dependent individuals is the primary focus of the JARC programs, but all substance abuse disorders are treated. JARC is committed to addiction research and participates in NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network as a Community Treatment Program.

The education and training of addiction professionals is a large part of JARC’s mission. JARC provides clinical placements/ internships for psychiatry residents, addiction fellows, clinical psychology graduate students, professional counselor graduate students, and social work graduate students. JARC is licensed by the State of Michigan to provide outpatient methadone and substance abuse services and is accredited by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF).

JARC provides a multi-disciplinary team approach to addiction treatment. All JARC patients have access to individual psychotherapy, group therapy, psychiatric services and social work services. Other services include substance abuse evaluations, educational workshops, 12-Step meetings, and referrals to a wide range of community supports. The clinical staff is trained in the delivery of evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy in both group and individual formats, motivational enhancement therapy, 12-Step facilitation therapy and contingency management techniques.

The Maintenance to Abstinence (M to A) methadone program is an evidence-based treatment for opiate dependence with contingency management as its basic “operating system.”

The most important elements of the M to A program are: clear expectations for clinic attendance, counseling attendance, and abstinence; the use of behavioral contracting whenever minimal expectations are not met, the use of incentives to reinforce abstinence; and the use of therapies with demonstrated effectiveness. The M to A program has demonstrated a clear improvement over more traditional approaches to methadone treatment.

The addition of Buprenorphine over the past year as a pharmaco-therapy in the treatment of opiate-dependence has become increasingly more important. JARC’s outpatient Buprenorphine program has been successful in reaching and treating opiateaddicted individuals that have, heretofore, been reluctant to enter traditional drug-free or methadone treatment programs. Opiate detoxification, medication maintenance, and counseling services are available to Buprenorphine patients.

The Comprehensive Mental Health Program for those Living with HIV/AIDS offer mental health services in an outpatient setting to those living with HIV/AIDS who have no means of supporting their mental health treatment. This comprehensive program offers a one-stop treatment modality that enhances the individual’s ability to receive concurrent treatment for these often comorbid disorders.

Individuals enrolled in the HIV program receive psychiatric care with medication assistance. Contingency management techniques are also employed in the form of incentives for accomplishing treatment plan goals.

The JARC has long recognized the special needs of female patients receiving substance abuse treatment. The Maternal Care for Recovering Women Program provides pregnant women a treatment experience designed to encourage abstinence from illicit substances and healthy living for the mother, and, in so doing, promote the delivery of a health baby. Some of the services available for pregnant patients include: prenatal intake and assessment, motivational interviewing, reproductive counseling and education, prenatal health education, childbirth preparation classes, peer mentoring, case management services, individual and group psychotherapy, and psychiatric care.

Staffing: John A. Hopper, M.D. has been the Medical Director of JARC since its inception. Dr. Hopper is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Adult Internal Medicine, as well as being certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Hopper joined the faculty at Wayne State in 1994 and his recent resignation reflects a significant loss to other program staff. The program is currently working to bring Dr. Eadie on board to fill this position.

Susan M. Stine, M.D., Ph.D. is the Assistant Director for Psychiatric Services. Dr. Stine is a boardcertified psychiatrist with added qualifications in addictions with over 10 years of experience in substance abuse treatment and research.

Gary Rhodes, M.A., L.L.P. is the JARC Clinic Director. Mr. Rhodes received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Wayne State University in 2000 and has been working and conducting research in the substance abuse field since 1996. He is a therapist and manages clinic operations at JARC. He serves on the CTN’s Concept & Protocol Review Committee.

Cheryl Madeja, CSW, MSW, serves as the Assistant Director for Social Work Services and directs the clinical social work services at JARC. She also serves as the director of Women’s Services and the Maternal Care for Recovering Women program.

The clinical staff includes an addiction fellow, psychiatry resident, two psychologists, two nurses and six Masters level therapists. Additionally, four clinical psychology graduate students receive training and provide therapy at JARC.

Unique Contribution: JARC offers substance abuse treatment guided by the best evidencebased practices available. Through our treatment contracts with the Detroit Bureau of Substance Abuse, we offer the highest quality treatment available to lowincome Detroit-area residents.

Additionally, JARC’s mission has always been committed to moving our field forward by maintaining an emphasis on addiction research and the education and training of addiction professionals.