I’ve been a client of TLC Maryville for one year this month; prior, I’d been going to BHG (tried both locations but ended our relationship at Citico). BHG made me DREAD being on MMT. I absolutely detested the entire experience, sans approximately two employees…and unfortunately, they had no say whatsoever in anything that occurred or any decision that was made - even if made in error. BHG was so crappy, I honestly considered just getting on dope & telling the entire company to take a long walk off a short pier. They’re in it for the $$$ first & everything else comes after profits. The place was ran terribly from the top-down. TLC has been a lifesaver - literally. I was out of MMT for ~45 days after getting booted /banned from BHG property, over a literal accident they decided to label intentional. I couldn’t even get the director to pull the video footage from the brand new surveillance cams before he decided to threaten trespass & police involvement - over a simple accident I’d already offered to cover. It was petty, but if BHG specialized in anything, it was wincing at mole hills & smiling at mountains (when the mountains are of their own making, of course). I honestly considered just getting back on short-acting opioids or going the illicit route..but I’m glad I didn’t & gave the folks at TLC a shot. I gave them 4 stars b/c they currently don’t accept insurance, nor do they have an active contract with the VA for Community Care-covered MMT for qualifying veterans such as myself.i know they’ve said they’re working on securing these, and I also know dealing with the VA & insurance providers is NEVER straightforward, nor easy, so I try to give them grace on that area & focus on the positives. That said, I am actively trying to do what I can on my end with the VA CC regional office to get the ball rolling on MMT coverage for 100% service-connected vets at a minimum. Having only BHG as an option is a real issue for a multitude of reasons, the least of which is past issues with erroneous lab results & subsequent loss of privileges for clients that earned them & did nothing wrong. TLC has been fantastic. From Chip to Laura to Michael, the ladies that serve us in the dosing queues to the front desk…everyone treats you with respect & Ive yet to detect so much as a sliver of patronization from a single member of the team. Everyone has been understanding, gracious, encouraging, supportive, available, empathetic and all truly seem to believe in what they do. All in all, I highly recommend TLC Maryville if you’re looking to make a positive change & are willing to put in the work. It’s not impossible unless we make it so for ourselves. If you’re a chronic relapser, a long-term addict that’s tried Suboxone or Naltrexone & still fallen back in to old habits & patterns, I can’t recommend MMT enough. Suboxone just want it for me, & I was on that train (generic subutex) for 7 years. Still chipped, still cycling thru using / not using & staying on bupe. However, it made me highly irritable, anxious, tense, constant headaches, developed 13 cavities but had near perfect teeth prior (and my teeth are GREAT on MMT!)…personally, I think bupe is inferior for chronic, longterm users & most whom have spent any time on the needle. Not always the case, but IME, MMT is far superior for not only retention but also abstinence while actively on stable dose. All that said, it’s worth noting that compared to most other clinics in the region, TLC is ~$60 cheaper on average if paying out of pocket. Id prefer the VA cover my care as they’re supposed to given my rating, but at least I have access to quality care I can afford out of pocket. It’s way cheaper than the street / onion fields & much safer, too. Personally, not much else I could ask for.
