ABOUT JOHN BROOKS RECOVERY CENTER
The John Brooks Recovery Center (JBRC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing substance abuse treatment services to residents of New Jersey. Additionally, it aims to reduce heroin overdoses within the local homeless community through resources and preventive education. JBRC has four locations near the Atlantic City Boardwalk and oceanfront. This review focuses on its long-term residential men’s facility, which has a capacity of 90 beds and is located on Pacific Avenue.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
JBRC offers long-term recovery support to eligible individuals. The center follows the disease model of addiction and utilizes a biopsychosocial approach in its assessments. The typical duration of residential treatment is between three and six months.
Treatment at JBRC includes individual therapy, group counseling, primary healthcare, and educational sessions. Topics covered in these sessions include relapse prevention, life skills, parenting skills, concepts from Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and promoting healthy recreation. Psychiatric and medical services are available for clients with co-occurring mental health disorders. JBRC also offers free community education on overdose response training in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the center provides long-term Methadone and Suboxone outpatient programs to more than 500 adults dealing with opiate addiction.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The staff at JBRC includes master’s-level social workers, drug and alcohol counselors, a registered nurse, and a physician.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is limited information available regarding the residences at JBRC. However, according to one review, the facility is conveniently located near hospitals and medical facilities, although it is also close to liquor stores and drug dealers.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The alumni reviews of JBRC are mixed, with all alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com giving the facility a rating of three out of five stars or higher for its treatment effectiveness. One former resident praised the educational components of the program and emphasized the knowledge gained about addiction. Another survey respondent mentioned a dislike for the no smoking policy but acknowledged that JBRC works well with its clients.
On Google, JBRC has a rating of 2.9 out of five stars from 15 reviews at the time of this writing. The reviews on Google are not consistent in their evaluation of the staff and the facility. Some reviewers mentioned that the center tries its best and praised specific counselors, while others expressed negative experiences related to poor food, lack of air conditioning, and problematic staff.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The feedback from loved ones is mostly positive, with only a few exceptions. Two loved ones surveyed rated the facility four and five out of five stars for its treatment effectiveness, accommodations and amenities, holistic treatment offerings, cleanliness, counseling options, and the staff’s level of training and experience. When asked if they would recommend JBRC on a scale of one to five, the loved ones gave ratings of four and five stars. However, the lack of aftercare services was highlighted as an issue. One loved one provided a one-star rating for aftercare offerings and expressed concerns about the safety of the area around JBRC, which is close to casinos.
An anonymous loved one acknowledged positive outcomes but suggested the need for increased monitoring of clients receiving opioids at physicians’ offices. Another loved one commented on the employees’ compassion, the cleanliness of the facility, and the fairness of the rules.
FINANCING
Residential services at JBRC are free for low-income New Jersey residents. Methadone maintenance treatment follows a sliding scale co-pay, and some financial support is available for this service.