St. Elizabeth's Comprehensive Addiction Program

Jim Fraggle
2 Star
I went here voluntarily to deal with a prescription pain addiction issue. I went there of my own volition and, given that I would be detoxing, I was hoping the staff would be sympathetic, but they weren’t, and primarily the physicians. The doctors see you maybe once or twice for 10 minutes, where they don’t attempt to understand why you are where you are, and instead basically ask why you “decided” to ruin your life. I’m older, I could handle that. I have had multiple traumas in my life. I’m used to mean doctors automatically making personal judgements on people they know or get to know over the course of 20 minutes spread out over 5 days. I shared a room with a 20 year old. This person was clear he couldn’t do suboxone BECAUSE he had no form of transportation in the small town he is in in order to just GET TO an MD who is allowed to prescribe. So if you want to know why people fail, listen to your patients when they say what the barriers are to them complying and YOU GUYS DONT LISTEN. I heard the WORST MD of the bunch meet with this kid-my roommate-in our shared (decrepit) room. All he did was tell the kid he ruined his life and while IGNORING the patient as the patient says “I can’t get to a specialized doctor who is allowed to prescribe suboxone.” Being on suboxone means you have to participate in groups and have a drug test weekly. So it’s not a once off. That kid would have to buy a car or walk 30 miles each way to get to a doctor. So this kid is in detox, the solution is to get on suboxone, and this facility did NOTHING to ensure he could stay off heroin by having access to suboxone.this is not a place to get compassionate care, just judgment. Maybe they think detox is supposed to be awful so they make it such that you can’t feel comfortable by being in rooms that are basically never renovated jail cells. Just being in there with zero supportive doctors is enough to send even a teetotaler drinking. I am a voluntary no drinker. Don’t like the taste, saps my energy, bad hangovers. I don’t drink. Yet I was forced to go to AA while there, instead of NA, and my trauma was made worse by hearing the sad awful stories being told. But I don’t drink. Addiction is addiction, but each one is different. Don’t force people who go there for narcotics help to go to AA if they don’t and have never drank. Why don’t you offer NA meetings given that narcotic addictions are one of your “specialties.” I say this with a kind heart to those seeking help: do not go here. Find another option. I went in there feeling proud (also petrified) as I made the decision to get help on my own. Yet while there all the physicians, who see you the least, they only served to destroy the pride I had in getting help. I left there less hopeful and more depressed, feeling like I was just a piece of garbage those doctors are sick of seeing everyday and callously yelling at them “why did you do this to your life.” How in god’s name is that helpful. But the fact is, when you look for addiction help, there’s barely any there, and when they are, they are backlogged and have no problem telling you once you’re there that they are “overwhelmed” with patients. How about keeping that info to yourselves. People who need help: go any place but here. I’m on other prescription meds get refused to give me, despite he fact that I provided all the info on intake. What did one of the doctors say to me during a 3 minute meeting? “I never would have approved you to come.” And instead of continuing my other meds, they were cut off for 5 days, putting me at risk for seizures, and superimposing more withdrawal on top of the withdrawal I was expected to feel while getting on to suboxone. Go here if you want to get yelled at tor decisions made by other staff. Come here if you want to be treated like dirt and worthless garbage.
Saturday 22nd May 2021

Amanda Dinicola
1 Star
Be prepared to babysit a client for 2-3 days after detox After being discharged my friend couldn't even sit in a chair!! She fell to the floor and couldn't get up. She was mumbling and responding as if in slow motion. This is the 2nd time she has been discharged in this condition JUST BE PREPARED, You may need to call an ambulance!!!!!
Saturday 9th January 2021