At Lahey Health Behavioral Services, teens and adults are invited to work with a team of compassionate licensed addiction treatment professionals to develop the necessary skills to foster lifelong recovery. For those in need of supervised withdrawal treatment, Lahey Health offers safe medical detoxification and clinical post-detoxification residential stabilization treatment. Outpatient services include counseling, group therapy, and medication-assisted treatment, as well as coursework to satisfy court-ordered substance abuse sentencing.
ABOUT LAHEY HEALTH BEHAVIORAL SERVICES
Lahey Health Behavioral Services recently merged two long-standing non-profit health and human services organizations on Boston’s North Shore. Currently, more than a dozen locations provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health services including inpatient and outpatient treatment for addictive and psychiatric disorders. In addition to the agency’s headquarters, a detox center, methadone clinic, short-term stabilization residence, and dual diagnosis rehab residence for adolescent boys are all located in Danvers, Mass.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Individuals struggling with substance abuse, including alcohol, opiates, or benzodiazepines, may undergo medically monitored detoxification while participating in psychoeducational group sessions and 12-step meetings through a dedicated detox center. Upon completion, clients receive referrals for next steps in recovery.
The outpatient methadone clinic offers maintenance dosing, wellness education, individual and group counseling, family therapy, and an array of lab work and testing services, including screening for HIV and substance use.
The Danvers-based youth day school and residential facility hosts a 90-day program for boys struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Following detox services if needed, residents participate in holistic therapies such as pet, recreational, and music, as well as in counseling, emotions management, and 12-step practices.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The leadership at Lahey Health Behavioral Services includes medical doctors, master’s level health services administrators, licensed mental health and substance abuse counselors, and master’s level registered nurses. Some common positions hired, according to the facility’s website, are master’s level clinicians and direct care staff for whom the education requirement is a high school diploma. 10 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com at time of writing gave an average rating of 2.9 out of five stars for the staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Many of the Danvers-based programs are located on a common campus, including a 50-bed adult detox unit and a 15-bed residential rehab for youth. Some outpatient services provide transportation to clients, and many services are available in English and additional commonly spoken languages in the area such as Khmer and Spanish.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Most of the nine alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com attended the crisis stabilization program, and many had participated prior to the merge of CAB with Lahey. The alumni reviews of the facility were mixed, with alumni either loving or loathing the facility.
Reflecting the mixed average rating of 2.9 out of five stars that the staff’s level of training and experience received, alumni were particularly polarized in this area. Some alumni praised the staff. One alum wrote, “they have people that work there that are in recovery themselves and the understand what your going through.” Conversely, alum J.P. wrote that the staff “tend to…mingle together in a back office and have little client paitient counseling.”Another alum wrote, “they need to be more aware of addiction, not be mean.”
The highest rated category was afforadbility, with an average of 3.8 out of five stars. However, two of the total alumni did not leave a rating for this metric.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Best-rehabs.com polled six loved ones who provided mixed to negative reviews. Two-thirds of the loved ones polled would recommend the facility, despite the effectiveness of treatment received an average rating of just 2.5 out of five stars from the four respondents polled on that metric. Two mentioned the short length of stay in crisis stabilization as a weakness.
Concurring with a common alumni opinion, Diane wrote: “we need more educated people more recovering addicts who know the real game and struggles.” One relative cited a lack of supervision in client rooms. More positive commentary focused not so much on the facility’s effectiveness, but on its availability as a crisis center.
WHAT STAFF SAY
On Glassdoor, 64 reviews by former and current employees of Lahey Health Behavioral Services or its previously distinct agencies yielded an overall average rating of 2.7 out of five stars.[1] The accumulated ratings suggested an obsession on numbers by the upper management, and a lack of clinical background. However, staffers did praised the work environment and their colleagues.
FINANCING
Lahey programs differ in cost and financial arrangements, but most accept major insurance plans, self-pay, and Medicaid. A sliding fee scale is available for many services, as well. The youth residential program is funded by the state.
[1] https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Lahey-Health-Behavioral-Services-Reviews-E690601.htm#