Damascus Road Recovery, Inc.

Damascus Road Recovery, Inc.

ABOUT DAMASCUS ROAD RECOVERY

Damascus Road Recovery, Inc., located in Covington, Ga., offers a faith-based, long-term residential treatment for adult men struggling with substance misuse disorders. According to the facility’s website, the center’s specializations are methamphetamine addiction and prescription drug misuse, though it is equipped to treat most substance use disorders.

Founded in 2002, Damascus Recovery, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. According to a 2016 SAMHSA survey, 27.4 percent of treatment facilities in Georgia are private nonprofit organizations.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Before being admitted for treatment, potential clients participate in a phone screening with facility staff to determine whether the client is a good fit for this highly structured program.

The treatment program is primarily based on the 12-step model of recovery. Additionally, treatment incorporates individual and group counseling, spirituality coaching, education about addiction, and classes on relapse prevention, among other offerings. Structured recreation and work activity is also a key part of the treatment program. As a faith-based program, residents may also participate in Bible studies and devotionals.

The facility’s website notes that residents are required to attend church during treatment, and that contact with families is not allowed during the first 90 days. Subsequently, family members may have contact with residents. However, in order to do so, they are required to attend Al-Anon 12-step meetings and quarterly sessions at the facility.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Damascus Road’s staff is comprised of three staff members: two certified addiction counselors, one of whom is an ordained minister, and an intern counselor working toward certification.

According to the facility’s website, Damascus Road Recovery is approved by the Department of Corrections and is a member of the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

According to the facility’s website, Damascus Road Recovery started as a single home in January 2004 with six beds but has since expanded to six residences with a total of 44 beds. The 36-acre lakeside campus is equipped with cabin-style recovery homes.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Though Best-rehabs.com has not received any reviews from alumni to date, on Google, four alumni gave the facility an average rating of four out of five stars. [1] Although three reviewers rated the facility five out of five stars with no supplied commentary, the fourth, Charlie, left a one-star rating wrote:”This place is a joke.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

At the time of this writing, Best-rehabs.com has surveyed seven loved ones who left mixed reviews. Positive reviewers tended to emphasize the effectiveness of treatment while noting that treatment regimens were extremely strict. “Staff are NO-NONSENSE with addicts AND the families.,” wrote S.D. in a representative review. K.P.P. echoed this sentiment writing that “This is a tough love program and not for the weak.”

Loved ones who left negative feedback tended to criticize the level of staff training, lack of one-on-one counseling, and poor communication with family members. One loved one, M.L.F., wrote in a representative review: “They lied to our qualifier the entire time that they were there… Telling them that they were giving us weekly updates. We didn’t receive a single update the entire time.”

However, many reviewers noted that the facility was honest upfront about a lack of communication with loved ones as part of treatment protocol. “This program is highly effective. Not to much marketing out there about the program but it is a Christian based very productive program,” Elaine wrote.

FINANCING

While no information is available through the facility’s website concerning its cost, reviewers indicated that residents pay for treatment through work therapy. Damascus Road Recovery, Inc. also offers an admission scholarship fund.

[1] Google Reviews

Damascus Road Recovery, Inc. Reviews

This is a long term program. They do not baby the clients. It is Christian based. If you are serious about recovery this program works. They do not communicate with families that is part of the recovery process. It is explained very clearly up front. Don't except them to keep you updated as a family member. The clients are adults not children. This is a tough love program and not for the weak. Even if you don't agree with the methods and the rules it works. Are they perfect. No. The clients are taken care of. The councelors are called to do this. It is their life 24/7.
I placed my son at this facility in hopes that they could help him find his way. My son knew that this was his way home. He lasted 4 weeks. They never called to let his family know this. I have been trying to get in touch with someone... to hear their version of what exactly happened. I did not research this place and I should have.
My first impression of this place was a great one. I spoke with one woman for a good 45 minutes about getting my qualifier into their program. The very next day she did not even remember speaking to me. She did not remember mine or my qualifiers name. That should have been my first sign. My next sign should have been them not mentioning the $300 expense account until the day before we dropped our qualifier off. My 3rd sign should have been the horrible attitude that she and another man portrayed when we dropped our qualifier off. They lied to our qualifier the entire time that they were there... Telling them that they were giving us weekly updates. We didn't receive a single update the entire time. They lied to our qualifier stating that we had called stating that he had called us... We never spoke with him nor did we say that called us. Their policy is that they kick them out for phone calls... We never received said phone calls. My qualifier was severely depressed and asked for professional guidance.. They gave him an 18 year old sponsor who wouldn't get out of his laptop long enough to listen. It took them 36 hours to reassign him someone else. My mom is hearing impaired and legally deaf. I asked if there were alternative types of al-anon meetings and they wouldn't accommodate. I feel that they never even gave him a chance. I feel as if all that they are concerned about is money and not the well being of the qualifier. SEVERAL people were dropped off at the quick trip with all of their belongings in the 4 weeks that my qualifier was there.
Like the other reviewer said, the clients work and pay almost all they earn to the program. On top of all the fees, clients must pay a 10% "tithe"" to the program. After two years it they are luck they will have saved $2000.