Philadelphia Treatment Centers

Philadelphia, PA, was one of the first cities in our country to recognize that addiction is a disease, rather than a lifestyle choice, and that it should be treated as such. This is why, in 1972, the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has started to offer help to those who have substance abuse problems. Since 1972, they have helped those who abuse prescription medication, cocaine addiction, heroin dependency, other drug addiction, or alcoholism; and they have ensured people are able to move towards recovery. For Philadelphia, addiction is seen as a disease that has spiritual, social, psychological, and biological factors. As a result, there is an enhanced understanding of the fact that it has an effect not just on the addicted individual, but also on the family. Furthermore, the city focuses on recovery of spiritual connectedness, social relationships, emotional well-being, mental health, and physical health.

While in 1972, the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital was responsible for the full administration of drug and alcohol treatment services, it has now been taken over by the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, which has spearheaded the Jefferson Substance Abuse Programs. These programs have served as an example of best practice for various other programs, all of which now offer three elements to help people through rehab and detox.

Outreach Programs

The first element is provided by the outreach programs. Here, individuals who suffer from substance abuse disorders can receive psychiatric and therapeutic services. There is also a focus on co-occurring disorders, for people who also suffer from a mental health problems. Through the outreach program, people can have access to:

• Resources for public information as well as education
• HIV test referrals
• Referrals to a variety of other services related to addiction and intervention
• Medication management
• Evaluation services (medical and psychiatric)
• Therapy for couples, families, groups, and individuals
• Assessments to determine what level of care is required

Intensive Programs

The second element is made up of the intensive programs. These are offered both on outpatient and inpatient bases. The outpatient programs last between 12 and 16 weeks, whereby people attend treatment for nine hours per week. Inpatient treatment services are available for those who require even more intensive services. As part of this element, people can receive:

• Access to aftercare groups
• Referrals to other support services
• Relapse prevention services
• HIV prevention and testing services
• 12 step meetings
• Medical and psychiatric assessment
• Counseling

Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Program (NARP)

The final element is the NARP program, which is an outpatient program designed for those who seek methadone treatment to help them recover from an opiate addiction. Through NARP, people can have access to:

• Community information, education, and other resources
• HIV/AIDS testing at regular intervals
• Anonymous 12 step meetings for methadone and narcotics
• Couples and family therapy
• Psychotherapy for groups and individuals
• Appropriate referrals to other medical services
• Psychotropic medication management if this is deemed necessary
• Ambulatory detox services
• Maintenance and monitoring of methadone prescriptions
• Full psychiatric and medical evaluations

Put together, these three elements aim to prevent addiction and substance abuse disorders, as well as ensuring that help is available for those already trapped in the cycle of addiction.