ABOUT ST. LAWRENCE ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER
St. Lawrence Addiction Treatment Center, located in Ogdensburg, N.Y., offers short-term inpatient treatment to adults struggling with chemical dependency and gambling addictions. Located on the Canadian border in upstate New York, the state-run Treatment Center serves the uninsured, underinsured, and working poor residents of New York State’s northernmost counties.The treatment center is located on the campus of a psychiatric facility.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment is abstinence-based, and each client receives an individualized treatment plan, discharge plan, and relapse prevention plan. Evidence-based treatment methods include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. Group and individual counseling, recovery workshops and seminars, religious observance, community meetings, self-help meetings, and family counseling are also used. Individual and group counseling is is provided for those receiving treatment for gambling addiction.
The two- to four-week long inpatient program involves 12 hours of treatment five days per week and eight hours on the weekend. There are daily group counseling sessions for women only that focus on self-esteem, self-acceptance, specific health care issues, trust, and assertiveness, among other topics.
Treatment programs for both genders also make use of complementary therapies including meditation and journaling. Medication, including Buprenorphine and Vivitrol/naltrexone, is prescribed and managed if appropriate.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, staff includes physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, a social worker, recreation therapists, a dietitian, and a pastoral counselor.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
St. Lawrence Addiction Treatment Center is a 40-bed facility. Smoking is prohibited, as are cell phones and laptops.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing there have been five alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com. Alumni report mostly positive experiences, and all five polled said they would recommend this facility to a friend or family member.
An anonymous reviewer, who is between 26 and 39 years old, reports he entered rehab at St. Lawrence for treatment of substance abuse. The alum chose this particular facility based on a friend or family referral. The reviewer stayed for 30-60 days, completed treatment successfully, and did not enter sober living after leaving the facility. The client agreed the facility was worth the cost. He reported that he relapsed 11 months after leaving the program and didn’t re-enter the facility, choosing instead to go to a detox program and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Several reviewers mentioned the facility showed particular strength in the one-on-one and group counseling sessions available, as well as the friendliness of staff. One alum felt that the facility could improve by pushing religion less, and another felt it was a weakness that the facility does not allow smoking.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
At the time of this writing there have been four friends & family members polled by Best-rehabs.com. The reviewers expressed mostly favorable opinions of this facility, with three of the four reviewers agreeing or strongly agreeing they would recommend it to others. Two reviewers felt the facility offered many counseling options to choose from, while two reviewers were neutral regarding this topic. Two reviewers agreed and two strongly agreed that St. Lawrence is adequately equipped and staffed to treat co-occurring mental health conditions. When asked if staff are experienced and well trained, two reviewers were neutral while they other two agreed.
Loved ones expressed the facility has many strengths, including a caring, helping, and competent staff. Some weaknesses listed were the remote location of the facility and the clientele being mostly court-ordered to avoid jail time. An anonymous reviewer added that she felt the facility had saved her loved one’s life.
FINANCING
According to the facility’s website, fees are based on an individual’s ability to pay, and no one is denied treatment because of an inability to pay.