ABOUT CARRIER CLINIC — BLAKE RECOVERY CENTER
Founded in 1910, Carrier Clinic is one of the largest not-for-profit behavioral health facilities in New Jersey. Alongside an array of psychiatric services provided from its 100-acre campus in central New Jersey, the organization offers the Blake Recovery Center (BRC), which provides detox, residential, and outpatient services for individuals struggling with substance abuse and dual diagnosis.
BRC offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including a Suboxone program.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Blake Recovery Center’s website notes it uses the 12-steps alongside a fairly traditional array of clinical practices, and the length of programming varies according to the individual client’s needs.
Upon completion of a thorough assessment, many clients begin their recovery with detox, under the facility’s 24/7 medically supervised care. BRC’s residential program aims to address the “medical, emotional, and social needs of each individual,” by taking a comprehensive, individualized approach to treatment.
Residential programming typically includes individual and group counseling, family intervention and involvement, addiction education, and 12-step meetings. The program seeks to actively involve the client and their family members in every stage of treatment, from admission to discharge. For families, the facility offers a weekend codependency program.
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) meets on weekdays evenings, for three hours at a time. Clients continue to work the 12-Steps while receiving education and participating in mandatory, random urine tests.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to Blake Recovery Center’s website, the treatment team includes psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, nurses, and addiction counselors. The 32 individuals surveyed by Best-rehabs.com to date gave an average of 4.25 out of five stars for the staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Blake Recovery Center’s website indicates the treatment facility is a bright, open space that features a cafeteria-style dining room and simple shared bedrooms. According to MyCentralJersey.com, a renovation was completed in October 2015, and created a 32-bed facility. The 32 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the center’s cleanliness and exercise/leisure offerings gave them average ratings of 4.63 stars and 3.69 stars, respectively.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The more than dozen alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided mostly positive feedback, with few notes of complain. Fourteen alumni gave an average of 4.07 out of five stars when asked if they would recommend Blake Recovery Center.
The same 14 alumni were polled on the facility’s offerings in a variety of treatment metrics, and gave it average ratings of 3.71 stars for both is family participation and its counseling options, and 2.85 stars for its holistic offerings.
In their comments, several reviewers credited the facility with their long-term sobriety and even with saving their lives. They also frequently praised the center’s staff, the variety of therapeutic options, and the attractive campus and accommodations.
However, some alumni noted that treatment was very expensive. “Very comprehensive staff and therapy programs but very expensive,” one anonymous reviewer wrote in a representative review. “Located on a beautiful well kept campus inside and out,” another added. One or two alumni also noted a lack of aftercare.
The reviews also yielded a few isolated notes of strong complaint, citing poor accommodations, inattentive nursing staff, and “unqualified” group therapy leaders — though each of these accusations was contradicted by praise from other alumni.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The 18 loved ones reviewed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided more mixed feedback. When asked if they would recommend Blake Recovery Center, the 18 loved ones gave 4.33 out of five stars. They also gave 4.33 stars for family participation and 3.89 stars for counseling options.
Like alumni, the loved ones repeatedly praised the center’s staff and campus, but noted that treatment was very expensive. “The facility is beautiful… expensive… The staff was abundant and helpful,” one anonymous reviewer wrote in a representative review.
Reviewers also repeatedly cited a lack of proper care and attention and a lack of communication with clients’ families. “They isolate all of their patients from anyone in the outside world,” S.A. wrote.
“Terrible care,” describing their suicidal son being sent home after a single meeting with a social worker another loved one wrote. One reviewer also cited a lack of aftercare.
FINANCING
BRC’s website indicates it accepts private insurance, but asks that prospective clients first call their insurance provider to verify coverage. In addition, Carrier Clinic accepts Medicare and Medicaid for clients aged under 18 and over 65, but it’s not clear if this coverage extends to BRC. The 31 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the center’s affordability gave it an average rating of 3.61 out of five stars.