ABOUT FAIRBANKS
Founded in 1945, the nonprofit organization Fairbanks is one of the oldest independent alcohol and drug treatment centers in the United States. Today, the organization offers medical detox, residential care, and an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a partial hospitalization program (PHP), and outpatient services for adults and adolescents seeking treatment for substance abuse, and is located adjacent to a hospital in suburban northeast Indianapolis. Gender-separate extended residential care for adults is available at the nearby La Verna Lodge.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment at Fairbanks begins with a consultation with an addiction specialist. A comprehensive assessment by an addiction therapist follows. Clients develop an individualized treatment plan and are assigned to the appropriate program.
All treatment programs are based on the 12-Steps. Clients participate in group and individual therapy. Medication management is also available for clients that need a medication-assisted treatment method. Aftercare planning services are also made available.
Treatment is divided into programs based on clients’ ages and needs. Specialized programs are available for adolescents, young adults, and adults. Gender-specific services are available in the residential program as clients live separated by gender.
Fairbanks offers medical detox and residential treatment with varying levels of medical monitoring. Fairbanks provides medication-assisted therapy (MAT) programs that offer Suboxone and Naltrexone to address withdrawal issues.
A sober-living program, which has a recommended minimum duration of nine weeks is available. Clients participate in job readiness programming, cooking classes, a food pantry, and gain access to transportation and healthcare resources.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The staff at Fairbanks consists of Master-level mental health counselors and addiction counselors, as well as a doctor of osteopathic medicine, and a registered nurse. The facility is accredited by the Joint Commission. The 30 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the staff’s level of training and experience gave it an average rating of 3.83 out of five stars.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The detox and residential rehab center at Fairbanks offers simple shared bedrooms, a chapel, a gym, and a small shop. Adolescents may attend Hope Academy, an accredited, tuition-free charter school that combines academics with substance abuse treatment. The 30 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the center’s cleanliness and exercise/leisure offerings gave them 4.52 out of five stars and 3.6 stars, respectively. Fairbanks is a tobacco-free facility, but nicotine cessation classes are available.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing, more than 20 alumni provided feedback about Fairbanks to Best-rehabs.com. The feedback was mixed, skewing positive.
Of the 20 alumni asked whether they would recommend the facility, 14 would and six would not. In addition, 11 reviewers were polled on the facility’s offerings in a variety of treatment metrics, and gave it average ratings of 4.2 out of five stars for family participation, 3.45 stars for holistic offerings, and 3.18 stars for the available counseling options.
The reviewers frequently praised the center’s staff, and expressed appreciation for the program in general. Alumni gave the level of staff experience an average rating of 3.72 out of five stars. “Extraordinary experience with caring staff both professional and non professional. Organizational leadership also responsive to needs,” Kim wrote in a representative review, and an anonymous reviewer added: “Took a more holistic approach than I expected. Introd you to AA, but also explored other areas of depression and addiction sources.”
More than one reviewer described young or inexperienced counselors, or having personal difficulties with their counselor. “I was unfortunate in the counselor that I received… Others in my group asked to be transferred away from the counselor and I should’ve done the same,” one anonymous reviewer wrote.
Several reviewers also noted that they felt the facility was more interested in money than in caring for them: “They sobered me up, but were more interested in what my insurance would cover,” M.D. wrote in a representative review. Alumni gave an average rating of 3.3 out of five stars for affordability.
On its official Facebook page, which facility admins can manage, Fairbanks earned an average of 4.5 out of five stars from 73 reviewers to date.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The 24 reviews from loved ones about Fairbanks were mixed. Of the 24 loved ones asked by Best-rehabs.com whether they would recommend the facility, 13 would, four would not, and seven remained neutral on the question.
The 18 loved ones polled on the facility’s offerings in a variety of treatment metrics gave it average ratings of 4.17 out of five stars for family participation, 3.72 stars for its counseling options, and 3.11 stars for its holistic offerings.
Like alumni, several loved ones claimed that the facility was more interested in money than in helping them. “They are not concerned with helping the patient or their families. Very sad excuse for a rehab program. Very shameful,” one anonymous reviewer wrote in a representative review. The center’s cost also received recurring criticism. Affordability received an average of three out of five stars.
The staff’s level of training and experience received an average of 3.83 out of five stars. Numerous reviewers offered praise, describing the staff as genuinely caring and commending the center’s family program. “The staff kept us informed of our loved one’s progress and encouraged us to participate,” one reviewer wrote in a representative review.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, only one staff member provided feedback about Fairbanks to Best-rehabs.com. The review was exceptionally positive.
The staff member gave five out of five stars for exercise and leisure offerings, holistic offerings, cleanliness, counseling options, family participation, and the level of staff experience. The staff member gave four out of five stars for connectivity and affordability.
FINANCING
Fairbanks accepts insurance, and is in-network with some carriers. Self-pay is accepted, and the facility offers financial assistance for qualifying clients through My Treatment Lender. Medicare is accepted for outpatient medication-assisted treatment, and rent at sober-living facilities costs $175 per week. The 29 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the center’s affordability gave it an average rating of 3.14 out of five stars.