Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment in Maryland & DC | MJB Holistic
- Melveena Johnson-Bolden, PMHNP-BC
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
MJB Holistic provides alcohol use disorder (AUD) evaluation and medication management for Maryland and DC residents via secure telehealth, plus in-person care at our Upper Marlboro, MD office. Care is delivered by a board-certified PMHNP-BC.
If your relationship with alcohol has started to feel out of balance, you are not the only one. Alcohol use disorder is one of the most common — and most under-treated — mental health conditions in the United States. The good news: it is also one of the most treatable, and effective medications exist that most people have never heard of.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a chronic, treatable medical condition involving impaired control over alcohol use, continued use despite consequences, and sometimes withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. The DSM-5 describes mild, moderate, and severe levels — most people who would benefit from treatment fall in the mild-to-moderate range.
You do not need to meet a "rock bottom" definition to deserve help. People come to us at all stages, including those who are still functioning well externally but know something is off.
Signs Worth Paying Attention To
Drinking more, or for longer, than you planned
Wanting to cut back but finding it hard
Time spent drinking, planning to drink, or recovering from drinking
Cravings or urges
Drinking interfering with work, family, or responsibilities
Drinking despite physical or mental health consequences
Tolerance — needing more to get the same effect
Withdrawal symptoms — sweats, shakes, anxiety, sleep disruption — when not drinking
Drinking in physically risky situations
Treatment Options We Discuss
We follow evidence-informed practice guidelines from SAMHSA and the American Psychiatric Association. Treatment is individualized, but typically includes some combination of:
FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder — naltrexone (oral or long-acting injectable), acamprosate, and disulfiram are all options with different profiles
Behavioral support — therapy (CBT, motivational interviewing, ACT), peer support (AA, SMART Recovery, others), or both
Care coordination with primary care for liver, blood pressure, and nutritional follow-up
Treatment of co-occurring conditions — anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, trauma
Medication for AUD is underused — fewer than 10% of people who would benefit ever receive it. We can talk through whether it might help you, what the differences between the options are, and what to expect.
A Note on Goals
We support a range of goals — abstinence, moderation, and harm reduction. The right goal is the one that fits your life, your medical situation, and what you want. We will be honest if we think your goal is unsafe (for example, moderation is not a viable goal during pregnancy), but we will not lecture or shame you.
Insurance Accepted
We accept the following insurance plans:
Aetna
Cigna
Blue Cross Blue Shield (CareFirst MD, FEP, out-of-state BCBS)
UnitedHealthcare
Maryland Medicaid (Priority Partners, Aetna Better Health, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Wellpoint, CareFirst Community Health Plan)
DC Medicaid (AmeriHealth Caritas DC, MedStar Family Choice DC, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Plan DC)
TriCare Prime, TriCare Select, Humana Military
Johns Hopkins Health Plans (USFHP, EHP, Priority Partners, Advantage MD)
Peach State Health Plan (for Georgia residents)
We verify your benefits before your first visit. To check coverage, call (301) 381-3622.
About the Provider
Care is provided by Melveena Johnson-Bolden, PMHNP-BC — a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is an advanced-practice nurse trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, including prescribing and managing psychiatric medications, within state scope-of-practice rules.
How to Schedule
Getting you seen quickly matters to us. We do our best to accommodate each patient's needs as soon as possible — same-day and next-day appointments are often possible, subject to availability. Call or book online and we'll find the soonest opening that works for you.
You can book online through our scheduling portal or call our Maryland office:
Call: (301) 381-3622
Office: 1300 Mercantile Lane, Suite 129-14, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 (Georgia residents are seen by telehealth only)
We work to meet at a frequency that works best for each client. It's common to meet every 4 weeks at the start, then every 1-3 months once stable.
Related Topics
Other resources from MJB Holistic that may be helpful:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to stop drinking before my first visit?
No. We meet you where you are. If you are actively withdrawing or at high risk for serious withdrawal, we will help connect you to a higher level of care first.
Will my employer or family find out?
Your visits are confidential under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. We won't share information without your written consent except where required by law for imminent safety risk.
Are AUD medications addictive?
No. Naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are not controlled substances and do not produce dependence. They work by reducing cravings, blocking reward, or creating disincentives — depending on which medication.
Do I have to go to AA?
No. Peer support helps many people, but it is not the only path. We support whatever combination of resources works for you.
What if I slip up?
Slips are common and they are part of how many people learn what works. Reach out, come back in, and we adjust the plan. The goal is the long arc, not perfection day by day.
Care provided by Melveena Johnson-Bolden, PMHNP-BC. MJB Holistic & Therapeutic Services, LLC. 1300 Mercantile Lane, Suite 129-14, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Phone: (301) 381-3622.
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