Meet the Lake Villa Drug Treatment Center Staff
Rick George, MSW
Executive Director, Lake Villa
Rick George is the Executive Director of the Gateway's Lake Villa Treatment Center. This 145-bed substance abuse treatment program and facility is part of Gateway Foundation Alcohol & Drug Treatment-the largest provider of substance abuse treatment in Illinois with locations throughout the state. Gateway's Lake Villa Treatment Center is situated on a beautiful 43-acre campus on the shores of Lake Fox, and is undergoing a million-and-a-half dollar renovation. He also brings years of experience in youth development and youth support in the Chicagoland area.
Rick helps educate the community about the latest trends in substances being abused and treatment methods. In this local area, Rick calls attention to a resurgence of heroin addiction, and abuse of several new over-the-counter products including K2 and bath salts. He and his colleagues are also seeing an increase in substance abuse in older adults.
Rick is passionate about conveying that substance abuse treatment should not be a "cookie cutter approach" but customized to each person's physical, psychological and social situation. The majority of substance abusers have a Co-occurring mental health disorder, which is why Gateway's Lake Villa Treatment Center has psychiatrists who are knowledgeable in treating both issues simultaneously. Another newer trend is the incorporation of anti-craving medications to help addicts withdraw and abstain from the substance more effectively and more comfortably. In fact, insurance companies now look to organizations such as Gateway that utilize these latest anti-craving medications.
In addition to Rick's years of experience, he is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and holds a Masters in Social work from Loyola University, and a Bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College.
