Quite possibly the best thing that has resulted from so much publicity about people suffering from addictions and the rehab programs that treat them over the last couple of years, is that many people who need treatment are now finding the courage to get it. However, when looking for a treatment facility, it is still difficult to know which facility is the best.
Whether you have the cash to pay for treatment or insurance that will cover it, there are literally hundreds of rehabs out there promoting their treatment programs. We’ve all been inundated with promotional materials online, on television, in books, and even on the radio. How do you sift through the propaganda and know that you or a loved one will get the care you’re paying for?
On my recent search for the finest facilities in the country, I was pointed to Malibu, California. At last count, in Malibu alone, there are 29 treatment centers. OK, it’s a great area, but how was I to know which of these facilities is the best? Before spending a tremendous amount of money on treatment, It’s important to know that you or a loved one is receiving the best care possible.
Sifting through all of the information about individualized treatment, holistic approaches, cures for addiction, high-end luxury amenities, and personalized programs, it’s easy to get enamored by a facility and forget what is really important. In addition to facility and amenities, the true test of a treatment program is to know the breadth and quality of the treatment options a specific center offers as well as its success rates. Only then can you tell if you’re choosing the best facility.
Three addiction treatment centers in Malibu stood out to me for their reputation and similar price-point: Promises, Passages Malibu, and Cliffside Malibu.
Promises was one of the first luxury rehabs. For 24 years, it has been treating high profile clients for drug and alcohol abuse. Starting at around $55,000 a month for a shared room and up to $90,000 for a private room, Promises offers a chef to cater to special dietary needs, resort style amenities, and even 400 thread count sheets. It’s no wonder celebrities flock there. That may all sound wonderful, but it turns out there is a darker side to Promises. Three years ago, the facility was purchased by a private equity firm. That’s a little like your favorite local Italian restaurant being taken over by a national pizza chain. There’s no doubt that the quality will suffer. Also, though the facility touts its “confidential” treatment program, leaks about celebrity clients occur continually. Failure to maintain a confidential client list is a breach of the most egregious sort. If you’re unwilling to play second-fiddle in a celebrity focused environment, Promises may not be the best facility for you.
Passages Malibu was founded in 2000. The story of its founding is that a desperate father wanted to save his drug addicted son’s life after the son failed to be helped by attending treatment programs across the nation. The father believed his son could be cured with the “right” treatment, which involved many one-on-one therapy sessions, holistic healing principles, and “fixing” core issues. This father did not believe that his son suffered from a disease and dismissed that model entirely from his treatment program. Nor do the founders of Passages believe any twelve-step work is necessary to treat drug and alcohol addiction. They claim to have found the “cure” which is a lofty claim considering most if not all seasoned professionals for addiction treatment assert there is only treatment and not a “cure.” A book and several commercials later, Passages puts most of their emphasis on advertising their unique treatment program more so than their pricey amenities. At a similar price point to Promises, they too offer luxurious private and semi private rooms sitting on a large estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with tennis courts, gardens, and swimming pools. The issue with Passages is that while they purport to have a cure for alcoholism and addiction, they cannot back that promise up with real, quantifiable efficacy studies. The “evidence” of this cure is anecdotal, the story of a man and his son, and a lot of dreams…. Just read the June 25, 2008 LA Weekly article on Passages. It paints a very clear picture of what not to buy into about Passages.
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