STARTING ADDICTION TREATMENT RECOVERY
Making the decision to start addiction treatment recovery can be hard, and we’re proud of you for taking the first step. We are committed to meeting each patient where they are. Here are some important things to know about beginning.
Admission days are generally the longest you will be at BrightView and may take most of the day to create an effective treatment plan and lower risks of negative reactions to medication. We have water and small complimentary snacks but encourage you to bring your own lunch.
DAY 1 WILL GENERALLY FOLLOW THIS PROCESS:
- Step 1 – Registration
- Step 2 – Medical Induction & Vitals
- Step 3 – Clinical Intake Assessment
- Step 4 – Physician Visit
- Step 5 – Pharmacy Visit
- Step 6 – Observed Dosing
You will be asked to fill out and sign the following forms:
- Fee Agreement
- Release of Information (to ensure information about your treatment remains confidential)
- Consent for Treatment (to confirm that you agree to allow us to treat you accordingly)
- Treatment Contract
- Financial Responsibility
- Alcohol and Drug Screen Policy
- Confidentiality Form
- Privacy Policy
- Confirmation of Receipt of Forms
STEP 2:
MEDICAL INDUCTION & VITALS
One of our medical assistants* will walk you into our office to check your vitals. Afterward, you will complete a urine screen. This information will give us the most accurate measure of your current state and tell us how we can best help.
- Urine screens test for: THC, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, Suboxone, benzodiazepine, MDMA, Methadone, oxycodone, and phencyclidine (PCP).
- Your vitals (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate) will help us place you on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).
They will ask you about your current medications, any allergies, your preferred pharmacy, and any symptoms of withdrawal you’re currently experiencing.
*This will all be done by a Certified Addiction Registered Nurse, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Level 3, and/or a Registered Health Information Technician.
STEP 3:
CLINICAL INTAKE ASSESSMENT
During the clinical intake assessment, you will meet with one of our licensed professional counselors or social workers to discuss the expectations of the program and understand why you’re seeking treatment. Our counselors will ask for general information like family history of use, your current living situation, your highest level of education, any legal history, employment history and any history of abuse. Then they will answer any questions you may have about BrightView, our facility, the intake, what to expect from our program, and treatment recommendations.
This is the most important part of your first day. All of this information will help give us a better understanding of the treatment you need and the help you deserve. In conjunction with our doctors, our behavioral health counseling staff will find the proper program for you.
Levels of care provided at BrightView include:
- Outpatient Addiction Treatment Program (OP)
- One or two 3-hour group sessions per week
- A minimum of one hour-long individual counseling session per month
- One physician appointment per month
- Intensive Outpatient Addiction Treatment Program (IOP)
- Eight to nine hours of group counseling per week
- A minimum of two individual counseling sessions per month
- One physician appointment per month
STEP 4:
PHYSICIAN VISIT
After Step 3, we’ll ask you to wait in the patient lounge until the doctor is ready to see you. The time between Step 3 and Step 4 may vary based on how many patients there are. We will do our best to keep you comfortable during that time. The doctor will discuss your current health, assess your needs, answer questions, and address any concerns regarding your treatment. Then they will decide on proper medication assisted treatment options and order any additional medications for withdrawal symptoms.
STEP 5:
PHARMACY
Our nursing staff will tell you how to administer your medications and give you instructions asking you not to eat, drink or smoke 20 minutes before or after taking your medications.
STEP 5:
OBSERVED DOSING
We will watch you put the first dose of medications like Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) under your tongue or (in the case of Bunavail) on the inside of your cheek.
For the next 1-3 hours, we’ll help minimize your withdrawal symptoms in our quiet, low-light patient lounge. We understand how terrible withdrawal can be, so we provide pillows, blankets, and comfortable chairs to help you relax or sleep while you’re going through it.
After we’re sure you’re doing alright, we’ll give you detailed instructions for Day 2 and let you go home.
FOLLOW UP AND TREATMENT PLANNING
The next day of induction will involve following up from your first day as well as starting on a treatment plan.
WE WILL GENERALLY FOLLOW THIS PROCESS:
- Step 1 – Medical Assessment
- Step 2 – Physician Follow-Up
- Step 3 – Observed Dosing & Labs
- Step 4 – Counseling & Case Management
STEP 1:
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
During the assessment, our medical staff will take your vitals and administer the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale. They will answer any of your questions or concerns about medications, symptoms, timing, and dosages.
STEP 2:
MEDICAL PROVIDER FOLLOW-UP
You will meet with your medical provider to follow-up about any medications and/or questions you may have. If your provider has no concerns regarding your continued treatment, he or she will sign off on your chart.
STEP 3:
OBSERVED DOSING & LABORATORY WORK-UP
You will be medically observed taking your medication. Our nursing staff observes patients in order to ensure they are taking their medication in a safe and appropriate fashion. When you have been observed for an hour and are feeling well, the staff will take a final set of vitals.
During Step 3, the staff will draw blood for any routine testing that the physician feels is appropriate for your treatment.
STEP 4:
PROGRAM SCHEDULING & CASE MANAGEMENT
The last (and most important) step of Day 2, is to meet with a licensed counselor or Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) case manager. He or she will:
- Create your treatment plan that includes identifying personal goals and therapy goals
- Schedule your appointments for group counseling sessions
- Assign your primary counselor and schedule appointments
- Address your immediate needs like housing, food, clothing, etc.
- Review the behavioral health and medical services available to you
- Schedule two follow-up appointments with the doctor
- Answer any questions you have about BrightView addiction treatment services
After meeting with the case manager, you will be discharged from the facility with a list of your scheduled appointments, a list of your group therapy sessions, and your group orientation time and date.
Please remember to attend all of these scheduled events (or reschedule with our front desk).
IF YOU ARE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR OPIOID ADDICTION, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARRIVE AT OUR OFFICE IN A SEMI-WITHDRAWN STATE TO RECEIVE MEDICATIONS PROMPTLY.
SEMI-WITHDRAWN STATE MEANS:
No methadone* or long-acting painkillers for at least 48-72 hours
No heroin or short-acting painkillers for 24 hours
*It is best if you are tapered down to less than 30 mg of methadone per day by the start of your 48-72-hour withdrawal period.
When you are in a semi-withdrawn state, the medicine will help ease your withdrawal symptoms. But, if you are not in withdrawal, the medicine may “override” the opioids already in your system causing severe withdrawal symptoms – this is known as precipitated withdrawal. If you are not in a semi-withdrawn state, we will still be happy to see you and make a substance abuse treatment plan to move forward.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ONGOING TREATMENT
