ABOUT HIGH POINT NEW BEDFORD COMPLEX — WOMEN’S ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER
Located approximately 60 miles from Boston, the New Bedford Complex Women’s Addiction Treatment Center (WATC) provides detoxification, clinical support, and transitional support services to women who have been involuntarily committed to treatment, by court order, under Massachusetts law Section 35, for up to 90 days.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
According to the center’s website, after an initial assessment by a nurse, followed by a physical exam by a staff doctor, women are admitted to a 24-bed acute treatment facility for what is typically five to seven days. Clients are assigned a primary care clinician with whom they meet one-on-one, daily.
Once medically stabilized, women are sent to Tranquility Inn, a 42-bed unit, or a smaller 16-bed unit for 24-hour-a-day supervision, where they are also treated for co-occurring disorders. According to the facility’s website, WATC utilizes individual and group counseling, 12-step education, and workshops focusing on relapse prevention and coping skills. Attendance at daily AA/NA meetings is required and WATC staff “strongly advocate” for the involvement of supportive family members.
While receiving transitional support services, clients continue psychoeducational programming. In addition, aftercare coordinators assist placement in an off-site halfway or sober residence.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
High Point Treatment Center’s website indicates the treatment team includes a medical director, nurse manager, RNs, LPNs, a clinical director, bachelors or master’s level clinicians and “recovery specialists,” and a nutritionist.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
According to the center’s website, the inpatient facility is a 24-bed unit, and Tranquility Inn is a 42-bed unit. The center also operates a smaller 16-bed unit. The eight people who were surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing rated the center’s accommodations slightly-above average. On average, they gave the center’s accommodations 3.13 out of five stars and its cleanliness 3.8 out of five stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The five alumni who were polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided mixed reviews. On average, they gave the center 3.2 out of five stars when asked if they would recommend the facility.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, since the facility holds clients involuntarily, the alumni reviews reflected a highly regimented program with little exercise or outdoor activities. One anonymous alum wrote: “The programs are strictly 12 step with no room for interpretation!!” The six respondents gave the facility’s counseling options a cumulative average rating of just 2.4 out of five stars.
Its connectivity and visitor policies as well as its family participation were similarly rated — the alumni gave just 2.4 and 2.66 out of five stars, respectively.
However, alumni rated the center’s affordability and cleanliness the highest with 3.6 and 3.5 out of five stars, respectively.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Of the four loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing, only two responded to questions regarding the facility’s treatment effectiveness, but both gave this measure the highest possible rating: five out of five stars.
These two individuals also gave near-perfect ratings for the facility’s family participation, its counseling options, and its treatment of co-occurring disorders. In addition, all agreed that they would recommend the facility to others.
One loved one, Michelle, mentioned the center lacked outside activities, and another anonymous loved one wrote the center needed more beds.
WHAT STAFF SAY
The one former staffer surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing, S.G., was highly critical of the facility’s management. “There were not as many medical professionals as there should be… The frustration should be directed where it belongs—the higher ups who are pushing these girls in and out of detox like they are cattle,” she wrote in a lengthy review fully published below.
FINANCING
According to HealthGrove, High Point Treatment Center’s facility in New Bedford accepts both private and state-funded health insurance, Medicaid, and self-pay clients.