By Dr. Scott M. Brown, DMS, PA-C, CRHCP
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioids or another substance, getting help in Newaygo County can feel out of reach. The nearest specialty program may be an hour away. You need a ride, time off work, and the nerve to walk into a building where everyone knows why you're there. Too many people never make that first appointment.
It doesn't have to be that way. At Hometown Family Medical Centers in Newaygo, addiction treatment is part of everyday primary care, in the same clinic where you get your blood pressure checked or your child's physical done. From the parking lot, a recovery visit looks just like any other visit.
Why I treat addiction in primary care
I've practiced as a Physician Assistant for more than 25 years, in emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and primary care. For more than a decade, I've focused on addiction medicine. The biggest lesson I've learned is that treatment works best when it happens where people already get their care, with a provider who knows them.
What care at Hometown looks like
We treat substance use disorder the way we treat diabetes or high blood pressure: as a medical condition that deserves ongoing, respectful care. For our patients, that means:
Medication for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, prescribed in the same exam room as the rest of your care.
Mental health support as part of your care, not a referral you have to chase on your own.
The same provider following you over time. If you have a setback, it's a conversation, not a discharge.
Why a rural health clinic is the right place
Hometown is a Rural Health Clinic, built to serve small communities like ours. Our model supports the steady, relationship-based care that recovery depends on. For many families in Newaygo County, the local clinic is the healthcare they trust and actually use, and that's exactly where this care belongs.
Stigma is the real barrier
Shame keeps people from asking for help. I understand that personally. As a person in long-term recovery, I know what it means to be treated as a patient instead of a label. Every person who walks through our door gets that same respect.
Taking the first step
You don't need a referral or a special program to start. Call us, tell the front desk you'd like to talk about substance use, and we'll take it from there. If you're worried about a family member, you're welcome to call too.
Hometown Family Medical Centers, PLLC
8379 S. Mason Drive, Newaygo, MI 49337
231-403-5000
This post is adapted from my article on LinkedIn, "Why Addiction Treatment Belongs in Rural Primary Care."
About the author: Dr. Scott M. Brown, DMS, PA-C, CRHCP is a board-certified Physician Assistant and Co-Founder and COO of Hometown Family Medical Centers in Newaygo, Michigan. He is a rural health leader and recovery advocate focused on breaking down stigma and expanding access to integrated care. Read Dr. Brown's full bio →
