[cmpcpro]

Hey guys, I am considering going to American Recovery for heroin detox. I am not very physically hooked, but I am, so I have to go. I have heard some good things about the rehab part but never the detox, has anyone had any experience?

[heroout]

Heya there friend,

First off congratulations on deciding to get help! That's the first step. I too have had a problem with heroin and did get the chance to go to the institution your asking about. I don't want to discourage you from going to get help, because you obviously need it, however I would keep looking. You are lucky enough to live in an area with many different rehab facilities. When I first went to American Recovery they were very friendly and sympathetic, however the actual nurse aids/detox specialists are a different story! I was admitted in around 9am and went into a pretty severe withdrawl at around noon, and I have to say I was about ready to hit the roof! The nurses in there were very cold and down right rude to me. They treated me like I was an animal in the pound. They wouldn't tell me what they were giving me, just that I was to take it. I was sick for about five days straight and those whole five days I was forced to interact in their groups despite being so sick I could barely stand. They do give you medication to help with the withdrawls but it doesn't actually help ease the withdrawl, it just makes you sleep. But you can only sleep for so long, about a day, maybe two. If you can handle basically quiting cold turkey then you might have a chance there, I actually was able to complete the ten days, but it was hell. I would choose just about any other detox if I had to go through it again. And if I had to do it again I would go with an actual medical detox. Not this excuse for one. I also highly advise you complete an actual rehab on top of the detox. I wouldn't adivse methadone unless you are a pretty strong willed person, but I would try to find a Suboxone doctor or a doctor who could prescribe you Naloxone.

Anyway I wish you the best, on whichever place you decide. American Recovery isn't the worst place you could be, it all depends on you.

Peace,
Jim

[nomoheron]

i agree with the guy above, stay away from that place. my sister went there and they treated her like ******************** to. she left after three days. the people on the phone are nice, until they get your $200 bucks..

[Robert_325]

I don't know anything personally about this particular rehab. It's in pomona, ca as I just checked on google but that is all I know. Heroout is right in that you have a lot of rehabs to choose from within a reasonable distance of your home. I would call a few places including calling this place back and ask if they use subutex/suboxone. They will tell you what they do. You're the customer. You can ask if they use subutex or suboxone for opiate detox if that is what you want to do. They will answer your simple questions.

heroout ... not sure how long it's been since you did rehab. I've been twice and once was like you described but the last time they gave me subutex late on the second or early the third day. I never even asked for it. Lots of hospitals are now automatically using buprenorphine for their opiate dependent patients. It's not as bad today as it was in years past. God bless.

[rjones4today]

Hey there, as I too applaud you for seeking help I am afraid I too have had a bad experience with American Recovery. I went there about 6 months ago, and was treated very well by their intake people only to be horrified once I actually got in. While the people there are rude and treat you like dirt the worst experience for me was the rest of the people there. While I have nothing against recovering addicts as I am one myself, but the majority of the people there are fresh out of jail and not the friendliest bunch. Actually down right intimidating for me. That combined with the fact that their medication just flat out doesnt help for withdrawls (Makes you feel hungover and sick!) and yeah, I too say keep looking.

[Robert_325]

I think it's very cool that you can post on this live forum about a specific rehab in Pomona and only eight hours later have two different individuals here who have personal experience with that facility. That is about as good as I think you could do for information anywhere.

With the negative feedback you have received I am pretty confident that I would check on some other facilities in the area if it was where I possibly could. I am not particularly enthused about the recommendations you got back. Getting into treatment quickly as possible is very important. If we put it off there is a chance that could be very bad for us. So don't use this feedback to justify putting off rehab beyond the time required to make some extra phone calls. That takes a maximum of a few hours.

The time to act is now. I would make a couple of extra phone calls though if it were me. ALL rehab experiences should not be that bad. It's natural to have less than enthusiastic memories about rehab but not all rehabs make patients feel as these replies suggest. Don't be discouraged. Just keep on and have faith this will work out for the best as you take the right action. God bless.

[Psyched]

Congrats cmpcpro on deciding to get help. I guess I would be on the other side of the desk so to speak on this one as I actually work at a psych hospital that offers detox. My one bit of advice is to stay away from clinics that offer methadone. I have seen a lot of patients that come away from those places worse off than they went in (their words, not mine). I even had one guy tell me he went to a clinic that actually gave people methadone and sent them home and only saw them as outpatients! I'm glad you're looking to get help, but I would caution you to do your homework before deciding on where to go for help. Good luck!

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by Psyched

Congrats cmpcpro on deciding to get help. I guess I would be on the other side of the desk so to speak on this one as I actually work at a psych hospital that offers detox. My one bit of advice is to stay away from clinics that offer methadone. I have seen a lot of patients that come away from those places worse off than they went in (their words, not mine). I even had one guy tell me he went to a clinic that actually gave people methadone and sent them home and only saw them as outpatients! I'm glad you're looking to get help, but I would caution you to do your homework before deciding on where to go for help. Good luck!

I had to briefly reply to your methadone related comments. I am not a methadone advocate by any means. I am not an advocate of any drug. Just please think logically and follow along with me if you would.

You work in a hospital and see addicts trying to detox every day. Some of the patients have told you that they are worse off now than when they began treatment with methadone. Being that you are working in a hospital isn't it logical that the only people you are seeing are the ones who had problems???? Where are all the people at right now who were successful with their treatments? They are all at home. None of them are there with you. You haven't had a chance to speak with them because you are only seeing the failures. Of course they are going to have negative stories to share ... it's a drug rehab. Every drug in existance has stories of failures.

I have no problems with showing both sides of the coin. There are negatives along with the positives to most everything. Methadone obviously has its potential downside. But methadone has helped lots of people get their life back on track. Methadone isn't all bad. In fact methadone has a great track record when used properly.

It bothers me ESPECIALLY when I hear people who work in drug rehabs sharing about the way NOT to get clean. How would it make you feel to know that someone decided to NOT get clean with methadone after nothing else had worked, but they read what you ( a professional from a rehab) had said and decided against methadone??? Just so happened that was their last option. After they opted against methadone based on what you said they later experienced an OD and died.

I would hesitate before telling people not to get clean any way that works for them. No way it's right for a professional to tell addicts " ..... to stay away from clinics that offer methadone." Why in the world would you say that??? Isn't that a pretty general statement about all clinics that offer methadone? Give me a break. It's fine to mean well which obviously you do. We just need to be careful how we say what we say. God bless.

[Psyched]

Thanks for setting me straight Robert. You're absolutely right and I do apologize, especially since I have not been on the opposite side of the desk. I really did mean well, but then again I think a lot of people in this business do except we make generalizations when we ourselves have never been in the situation. Thank you for offering me this point of view.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by Psyched

Thanks for setting me straight Robert. You're absolutely right and I do apologize, especially since I have not been on the opposite side of the desk. I really did mean well, but then again I think a lot of people in this business do except we make generalizations when we ourselves have never been in the situation. Thank you for offering me this point of view.

I appreciate you having such a good attitude and taking my suggestion exactly as I meant to be taken, as a constructive comment only. I extend my respect to others who also try to help people with recovery.

I realize we usually only see the negative side of drugs that have any addictive potential due to the profession we have chosen. It's very easy to get caught up in that when we see over and again what these drugs do to addicts and their families, little children have to suffer. I hate most all drugs myself. I just try to remember that some of these potentially bad drugs are also sometimes necessary drugs in the process of cleaning up. God bless.

[Psyched]

No offense taken Robert. I didn't see it as anything but constructive and very well laid out as well. I've read a lot of your posts and you seem to have quite a handle on a lot of things. I think the readers on this board are very lucky to have someone who is willing to devote their time and understanding the way you do. Keep up the good work and God Bless.