Decent Drug Treatment Centers?
October 9, 2015 2:58 PM Subscribe
I am looking for a good drug treatment center for my adult son (23) and am finding to locating a decent one is impossible through the internet. Everything I see turns out to be a thinly disguised ad. He approached me about it and I am hoping to help him out with the research. He has good insurance, and is looking for a young adult inpatient program, preferably not AA modeled (or at least not heavily higher power oriented), and preferably with a dual diagnosis slant (he also has anxiety issues). Anywhere in the US would be fine. His drug of choice is opiates, and he has been drug free for the last couple of weeks. Any help would be appreciated - this is an opportunity we don't want to screw up.
He has good insurance
I'll second that this is not nearly enough detail. Even "good insurance" will have limitations. You should definitely check and see if they will cover residential treatment. (Inpatient is often used to refer to locked ward or detox units; it doesn't sound like that's what you're going for here if he's a couple weeks sober.) Additionally, a lot of residential programs won't accept insurance, even if your insurance is willing to cover it. Do you have the ability to self pay for some or all of this? It can get very expensive, very quickly, fwiw.
Since this is anonymous, it would be very helpful if you could get the mods to update once you talk with his insurance. At the very least, you should start with a list of facilities they'll cover assuming you aren't able to self pay. Also, although I know you say location isn't important, it may still help narrow things down if you give us your general location. There are lots of drug treatment programs out there.
One other thing: Are you willing to let him stay with you during his treatment? Often someone will do inpatient treatment and then "step down" to outpatient treatment so this is something to keep in mind.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:40 PM on October 9, 2015
I'll second that this is not nearly enough detail. Even "good insurance" will have limitations. You should definitely check and see if they will cover residential treatment. (Inpatient is often used to refer to locked ward or detox units; it doesn't sound like that's what you're going for here if he's a couple weeks sober.) Additionally, a lot of residential programs won't accept insurance, even if your insurance is willing to cover it. Do you have the ability to self pay for some or all of this? It can get very expensive, very quickly, fwiw.
Since this is anonymous, it would be very helpful if you could get the mods to update once you talk with his insurance. At the very least, you should start with a list of facilities they'll cover assuming you aren't able to self pay. Also, although I know you say location isn't important, it may still help narrow things down if you give us your general location. There are lots of drug treatment programs out there.
One other thing: Are you willing to let him stay with you during his treatment? Often someone will do inpatient treatment and then "step down" to outpatient treatment so this is something to keep in mind.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:40 PM on October 9, 2015
There is a fairly strong rising sentiment in the non-AA recovery/medical community that Suboxone - which can be prescribed by a GP - and a real therapist (as in a therapist who received an education in some kind of therapeutic model rather than a "Drug and Alcohol Counselor") is the preferable science-based treatment for opiate addiction and the underlying causes.
If I needed to get similar help for a family member, and it was feasible for them to stay home and still avoid the people/places/things that might contribute to recidivism, I would find a hospital-based intensive outpatient program (IOP, they tend to run 6-7 hours a day 4-6 days a week for multiple weeks, duration varies based on the situation) for anxiety and depression which is non-AA in predominant methodology, and which accepts patients on Suboxone. (All of those bullet points are important, otherwise you're just as likely to end up in an insurance scam than an actual program.)
You could either start by calling hospitals, or maybe it would be easier to find a licensed therapist (like CBT or DBT therapy) with experience in addiction, who probably has some association with one or more IOP programs in your area.
If staying home is a problem, is there a family member who can live with him in another area for the duration of an IOP?
[Even though it's HuffPo, there's actually an excellent longform article here that summarizes the general thinking around this treatment modality. You might find some references to universities and hospitals close enough to your area that they might be good starting points for identifying a program.]
posted by Lyn Never at 4:40 PM on October 9, 2015 [10 favorites]
If I needed to get similar help for a family member, and it was feasible for them to stay home and still avoid the people/places/things that might contribute to recidivism, I would find a hospital-based intensive outpatient program (IOP, they tend to run 6-7 hours a day 4-6 days a week for multiple weeks, duration varies based on the situation) for anxiety and depression which is non-AA in predominant methodology, and which accepts patients on Suboxone. (All of those bullet points are important, otherwise you're just as likely to end up in an insurance scam than an actual program.)
You could either start by calling hospitals, or maybe it would be easier to find a licensed therapist (like CBT or DBT therapy) with experience in addiction, who probably has some association with one or more IOP programs in your area.
If staying home is a problem, is there a family member who can live with him in another area for the duration of an IOP?
[Even though it's HuffPo, there's actually an excellent longform article here that summarizes the general thinking around this treatment modality. You might find some references to universities and hospitals close enough to your area that they might be good starting points for identifying a program.]
posted by Lyn Never at 4:40 PM on October 9, 2015 [10 favorites]
Lyn's got good suggestions. The other thing I would do in your shoes is head over to the SMART recovery forums and try to get some personal suggestions there for a non-AA-centered program that someone's willing to say personally was good for them.
posted by Stacey at 4:53 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by Stacey at 4:53 PM on October 9, 2015
Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut is excellent, and has a dual-diagnosis program (which they call "co-occurring disorders").
There is an inpatient component, followed by an (optional) Transitional Living Program (TLP), which is a 28-day residential program. Silver Hill is very expensive if you have to pay out of pocket, and their website will tell you that the TLP is not usually covered by insurance. But that is not the case with all insurance, so check your coverage. (For example, Silver Hill is in-network for ValueOptions, which will cover it 100%, if they agree that the treatment is necessary.)
Hazelden has treatment centers, both residential and outpatient, in different locations in the country. They are also very good, and are in-network for some insurance.
Caron in Pennsylvania is also very good.
posted by merejane at 5:20 PM on October 9, 2015
There is an inpatient component, followed by an (optional) Transitional Living Program (TLP), which is a 28-day residential program. Silver Hill is very expensive if you have to pay out of pocket, and their website will tell you that the TLP is not usually covered by insurance. But that is not the case with all insurance, so check your coverage. (For example, Silver Hill is in-network for ValueOptions, which will cover it 100%, if they agree that the treatment is necessary.)
Hazelden has treatment centers, both residential and outpatient, in different locations in the country. They are also very good, and are in-network for some insurance.
Caron in Pennsylvania is also very good.
posted by merejane at 5:20 PM on October 9, 2015
Posting again to add -- I do think that the three places I recommended are somewhat 12-step oriented, to different degrees, but I don't think any of them require a belief in a higher power in a religious sense. Maybe others here have more information about this, but my impression is that it is hard to avoid some 12-step work at most places in the U.S. In any case, you can certainly ask about that when you contact them.
posted by merejane at 5:25 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by merejane at 5:25 PM on October 9, 2015
I find most referrals for treatment using this tool from SAMHSA. No ads.
https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
posted by MonsieurBon at 5:56 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
posted by MonsieurBon at 5:56 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I met once of the psychologists who works at Hazelden in Center City, MN and she was amazing. She works from a DBT framework, but it seems like they use a variety of evidence based practices. They also treat comorbid psych disorders.
posted by batbat at 5:57 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by batbat at 5:57 PM on October 9, 2015
I know you are not looking for higher-power-oriented programs. With that said, there is an option that doesn't involve the Christian higher-power programs like AA or The Salvation Army.
In Los Angeles, the Conservative Congregation Beit T'Shuvah and its associated residential rehabilitation facility have a lower recidivism rate than nearly all other area rehab programs, as well as job training, job placement, and community-oriented activities. One of the biggest predictors of relapsing on opiates is the strength of a patient's social and community ties, and Beit T'Shuvah helps rebuild those very well. It's expensive for those who can pay, but a friend of mine who was somewhat involved with the congregation's management told me that they can and will work to figure something out with prospective patients who can't pay.
Beit T'Shuvah is non-sectarian and will accept Jews and non-Jews alike, but all patients must attend services and daily Torah studies.
posted by infinitewindow at 6:26 PM on October 9, 2015
In Los Angeles, the Conservative Congregation Beit T'Shuvah and its associated residential rehabilitation facility have a lower recidivism rate than nearly all other area rehab programs, as well as job training, job placement, and community-oriented activities. One of the biggest predictors of relapsing on opiates is the strength of a patient's social and community ties, and Beit T'Shuvah helps rebuild those very well. It's expensive for those who can pay, but a friend of mine who was somewhat involved with the congregation's management told me that they can and will work to figure something out with prospective patients who can't pay.
Beit T'Shuvah is non-sectarian and will accept Jews and non-Jews alike, but all patients must attend services and daily Torah studies.
posted by infinitewindow at 6:26 PM on October 9, 2015
I would also review community-based programs, small residential "ecumenical" (non-doctrinal) programs with good reputations that are community based.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 10:06 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 10:06 PM on October 9, 2015
If your son happens to be in the Bay Area, I know several people who have done really well in the Kaiser CDRP intensive outpatient program. They have locations in San Francisco and Oakland. 12-step meetings are required but they use a range of modalities (including suboxone, naltrexone, and therapeutic treatment) and are way less rigidly AA/NA-based than many programs. You'll be hard-pressed to find any programs that don't incorporate 12-step meetings to some degree.
Also, please know that for many addicts achieving long-term sobriety (or developing a workable relationship to substances) is a long-term process, and there's no treatment that guarantees immediate success. Don't throw money at a pricey rehab that doesn't take insurance; it's just not worth it. That your son wants to do this himself is the best possible starting point and will be the most important factor in his recovery regardless of what treatment he receives.
posted by generalist at 11:55 AM on October 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, please know that for many addicts achieving long-term sobriety (or developing a workable relationship to substances) is a long-term process, and there's no treatment that guarantees immediate success. Don't throw money at a pricey rehab that doesn't take insurance; it's just not worth it. That your son wants to do this himself is the best possible starting point and will be the most important factor in his recovery regardless of what treatment he receives.
posted by generalist at 11:55 AM on October 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
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A good starting place would be to call his insurance company and ask what facilities or programs are covered. That might at least narrow down your list.
posted by jaguar at 3:24 PM on October 9, 2015 [3 favorites]