Addiction Medicine offers a comprehensive array of clinical services for individuals seeking recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction.

Our Philosophy

Each patient seeking recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction is different. At the Faulkner Hospital Addiction Recovery Program, we recognize every patient as an individual who deserves to be treated with dignity, care and respect.

We believe addiction is a treatable disorder, and that care provided by compassionate professionals in an environment of support and mutual respect heightens patients' self-esteem and promotes medical, emotional, spiritual and social recovery. Our goal is not only to promote abstinence and recovery from chemical dependency and its effects, but also to assist patients in achieving the highest level of human potential. Further, we offer the patient's family and friends information on how to support the patient and how to care for themselves at the same time.

Recovery Through Discovery

An important part of treatment philosophy is recovery through discovery. Safe and comfortable withdrawal from alcohol and other drug dependence, along with other medical interventions, are often the start of recovery. A patient's awareness about the effect of addiction on his or her health, relationships and well-being-as well as what triggers the addiction--is essential to continued success.

The addiction treatment process begins with a thorough assessment that helps patients identify their own needs and circumstances from the physical to the emotional and social. Then, adapting our broad array of clinical services, we create an individual treatment plan that helps the patient rediscover and take charge of her or his life.

Our Approach

We strive to meet the varied needs of newcomers to treatment, as well as those who have relapsed after some recovery.

The groups for newcomers address addiction as a disorder, the steps toward recovery and the options available for treatment, support and self-help.

The relapse curriculum helps the recovering patient recognize high-risk situations and uncover issues that have tended to lead to relapse. Then patients work toward developing positive approaches and coping skills for effectively dealing with similar situations.

Families

Because addiction affects whole families, we encourage loved ones to participate in the program. Groups especially for family members discuss addiction as a disorder, the issues of co dependency, and substance abuse as a family problem.

Services

Evaluation and Consultation
A trained clinician reviews a client's substance abuse patterns, assesses whether the person is becoming dependent, and then recommends treatment options.

Inpatient Detoxification Program
The short-term inpatient program includes medically supervised detoxification and education about addiction through counseling, group discussion, lectures and videos. Our clinical team works with patients on continuing care plans to support their recovery following discharge. The inpatient program usually is accomplished in four days or less, but is individually tailored and may be shorter or longer. All of our inpatient rooms are private and smoke-free.

Ambulatory Partial Hospital Program
This level of care, traditionally referred to as an outpatient detoxification program, and is sometimes used in addition to or as an alternative to inpatient treatment. The Ambulatory Partial Hospital Program combines medical assessment, medications as needed, individual counseling, group sessions, education and an introduction to self-help options. Patients usually receive treatment at this level for only a few days, arriving on the inpatient unit at 8:30 am and remaining for the day until 4:30 pm. During treatment, patients work with the clinical team to explore next step treatment options that may include individual counseling, day or evening treatment, or participation in weekly continuing care groups such as men's or women's Early Recovery or Relapse Prevention groups. Additionally, on-going participation in self-help meetings in the community is encouraged.

Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment Program
The Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment Program is a two-week program that addresses the needs of patients struggling with addiction and mental health issues. The Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment Program is designed to help patients develop an understanding of the way addiction and mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety, bipolar illness or other major mental disorders) can negatively affect the patient's effort at achieving or maintaining recovery. Patients attend the program on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. On Wednesdays, the program runs from 12:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Family members are encouraged to participate, starting at 5:00 pm.

Evening Treatment Program
The Evening Treatment Program allows adults to continue meeting their daytime responsibilities while receiving intensive outpatient treatment. The four-week program meets on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm and is meant to be used in conjunction with self-help meetings. The small group format allows program participants to receive individual attention as they work toward developing positive coping skills and enlisting family and social support. One Wednesday each month is devoted to family and friends participation.

Individual Outpatient Counseling
Meeting with a non-judgmental counselor is often the first step toward recovery. Counselors/therapists are available for outpatient appointments.

Group Counseling
Small group discussion can provide a safe atmosphere for open communication and support. Groups address the special concerns of men and women in early recovery, those in need of relapse prevention, adult children of addicted persons, gay and lesbian adult children and families of other loved ones.

Family Counseling
Through counseling and education, our program helps family members learn to recognize and deal with addiction. We also provide couples treatment, family therapy and individual support for relatives.

Employee Assistance
The Addiction Recovery Program at Faulkner Hospital has long standing working relationships with employee-assistance clinicians throughout the area for referral and follow-up and daily one-to-one counseling sessions.

Staff

The Addiction Recovery Program is co-directed by Dr. Carol Garner, an internist specializing in addiction medicine and Dr. Steve Stelovich, A psychiatrist. Dr. Alan Wartenberg, a recognized leading authority in the field and previous medical director, continues his involvement in the unit providing consultations to staff.

The program's experienced team of doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses are specially trained in addiction recovery treatment. To aid patients' withdrawal and recovery, the treatment team stays abreast of and applies the latest breakthroughs in addiction medicine. Clinical staff members also provide patients with information about HIV, smoking cessation, nutrition and general health issues.

Our advanced-practice addiction counselors provide patients with a wide range of specific techniques for successful recovery. These techniques can include hypnotherapy, meditation, exercise, cognitive and spiritual approaches to recovery and 12-step and other self-help methods. Counseling staff also educates patients through discussion groups, lectures.

Fees

Most major insurance companies cover Faulkner Hospital's services. Services also may be available to those without coverage or financial resources.

For More Information

Please call inpatient services at 617-983-7711 for more information or to make an appointment. Or call 617-983-7908 for outpatient services. All calls will be kept in strict confidence.