Athens, GA, May 02, 2017 — Today’s opening of the premier client-centric inpatient addiction facility in the Southeast, Serenity Grove marks a unique, leading-edge concept for alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment. The experienced and well-trained staff of the program approach addiction as a progressive, chronic, relapsing, and potentially fatal disease. Serenity Grove sets a new benchmark for addiction treatment by linking the acumen of American Society of Addiction Medicine member physicians& clinicians with the best, evidence-based practices in alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Serenity Grove offers intensive monitoring for any use of alcohol or other drugs and has developed creative strategies to address co-existing conditions and other barriers to long-term recovery.
Serenity Grove began as a residential sober living facility at Lake Oconee, where comfortable and serene amenities of lake living were integrated with the licensed, CARF accredited treatment programs provided at Athens Addiction Recovery Center, an evidence-based partial hospitalization addiction rehab program located in Oconee County. The collaboration provided clients the most successful, scientifically studied treatment methods with the ability to reside in a facility that provided the feel of a luxurious second home or lodge. The addition of Serenity Grove, Athens continues the mutually beneficial collaboration with Athens Addiction Recovery Center, providing a number of treatment options that are reimbursed by private major insurance carriers, along with other program options that are available to clients where insurance is not of concern. What’s more, Serenity Grove Athens is a fully licensed free standing alcohol and drug addiction treatment center that is authorized to provide the highest levels of care available without being hospital-based. Counselors, therapists, primary care physicians, and specialists, such as emergency medicine physicians and gastroenterologists are eager to collaborate with our high-acuity programs to best serve their patients who present with addiction and co-occurring disorders. The top flight staff, established treatment protocols, and the latest technology brings science driven, evidence-based therapy and medical advances in order to deliver the most comprehensive treatment and recovery services available for individuals suffering from substance abuse.
Led by medical director, A. Patrick Brooks, MD, along with psychiatrist, Dr. Bryan Price, the program is staffed with a full complement of highly trained multi-disciplinary clinicians, therapists and support staff. After a comprehensive assessment, evaluation and individualized treatment planning, Dr. Brook’s detoxification technique incorporates a six-fold process, which helps to prophylactically protect the client from seizures or other potentially harmful events, while at the same time effectively alleviating the physical discomfort that accompanies withdrawal from alcohol, illicit drugs and addictive prescription medications.
- Pharmacological Management
- Fluid & Electrolyte Restoration
- Careful Monitoring
- Nutrition & Physical Activity
- Clinical Education & Therapy
- Psycho-Spiritual Counseling
The six aspects of the program take place in tandem with a larger focus on the areas that are most relevant to each client. While in our care, clients enjoy the comfort of amenities offered at the 4-acre Serenity Grove campus, as well as our affiliated partners. Clients enjoy a broad range of activities including meditation, yoga, gym workouts, experiential therapies on and off-campus, outdoor group therapies, community building exercises, and relaxing strolls on magnificent nature trails.
Pharmacological Management
While our medical team has established protocols for a number of clinically effective drug regimens for detox that ensures safety, as well as a degree of comfort, no protocol is one-size-fits-all. Each withdrawal management plan is individually prepared by the team and in collaboration of the client and the family. Unlike most programs, we have the monitoring, availability of 24-hour nursing care and medical oversight, and the capability of using IV access and IV medications when indicated to quickly and adequately address changes in the client’s status.
Fluid & Electrolyte Restoration
Another advantage of IV access, when indicated, is restoration of hydration status and vital electrolytes for optimal physiologic functioning and healing. The integral role hydration, water-soluble vitamins, and electrolytes play in the withdrawal management and recovery process cannot be overestimated.
Careful Monitoring
Another key component at Serenity Grove is proper monitoring equipment, staff, and protocols. Safety of our clients is the #1 goal of our organization. Medical oversight is included for all withdrawal management clients, and 24-hour staff is always present, including 24-hour nursing when indicated. The medical team collaborates with the clinical counseling & therapy professionals every day to optimize care. The individualized treatment plans are reviewed weekly and updated as needed in conjunction with the client and the family whenever possible.
Nutrition & Physical Activity
Chef Peter Retzlaff creates meal plans on a 14-day cycle so clients know what to expect. He has created some of the most nutritionally viable entrées to aid in healing and optimizing utilization of calories at key points throughout the treatment day. His skills in this area are extraordinary, combining these key features with satisfying portion sizes and exemplary palatability. Clients present for care on a broad spectrum of physical ability at admission. Each client’s leisure and activity regimen takes into consideration the present physical limitations and measurable and realistic goals to improve those limitations, always focusing on safety, rather than over-exerting the client.
Clinical Education & Therapy
Our clinical education curriculum is centered on the evidence-based, and acclaimed PRIME Solutions™ curriculum created and developed by Prevention Research Institute™. To enhance introductions to different modalities and support groups, the clients receive exposure to 12-step groups, SMART Recovery™, Seeking Safety™, along with presentations and lectures from Serenity Grove staff and other authorities in the field of addiction. Group therapy is facilitated by appropriately trained staff, and can be goal-directed, or topic-centered. Family group and visitation on Saturdays is a critical aspect of the treatment program, because at its core, addiction is a family malady. Oftentimes, family members are very sick from the manipulation, fear, stress, worry, and co-dependency of dealing with an addicted loved one. Individual therapy rounds out the aspects of this facet of care, and is conducted as often as necessary for each client.
Psycho-Spiritual Counseling
In addition to the case manager or primary therapist’s role in the client’s care, there is often a need for specialized care for past trauma, or co=occurring condition or mental health diagnoses. Many times, the client may present with uncertain diagnoses or conditions that need to be identified or “ruled out.” In either case, when indicated our psychiatrist is available to collaborate with our addiction physician to optimize the pharmacologic regimen and cognitive behavioral care, or to complete a comprehensive psychiatric profile to explore what underlying issues may be present or untreated. Rounding out the care of the psycho-spiritual components of care are specialized counselors and therapists with special training in such disciplines as DBT, RRT, Exposure Therapy, Hypnosis and Motivational Interviewing. Our organization has specialists who are specially trained to treat a number of advanced diagnoses, such as PTSD, Sexual Trauma, Refractory Depression, OCD, Perfectionism, just to name a few.
In addition to our premium, chef-prepared meals, accommodations include premium bedding; high-thread count linens; warm, soft blankets; and high-quality pillows. Treatment doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. The inviting, serene settings and comfortable amenities help to effectively reach clients and encourage them to stay until they are ready to transition, rather than rushing the process. Our first job is to provide a safe environment and conditions to help the addicted mind to heal and change. Then the client is far more open to receive the tools we provide to help the person make that change permanent.
About Substance Abuse in the United States
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a major source of information on substance use, abuse, and dependence among Americans 12 years and older.
The following are facts and statistics on substance use in the United States in 2013, the most recent year for NSDUH survey results. Approximately 67,800 people responded to the survey in 2013. There were 19.8 million current users—about 7.5 percent of people aged 12 or older—up from 14.5 million (5.8 percent) in 2007.In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002. The increase mostly reflects a recent rise in use of marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2013, 6.5 million Americans aged 12 or older (or 2.5 percent) had used prescription drugs non-medically in the past month. Prescription drugs include pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. And 1.3 million Americans (0.5 percent) had used hallucinogens (a category that includes ecstasy and LSD) in the past month. Cocaine use has gone down in the last few years. In 2013, the number of current users aged 12 or older was 1.5 million. This number is lower than in 2002 to 2007 (ranging from 2.0 million to 2.4 million).Methamphetamine use was higher in 2013, with 595,000 current users, compared with 353,000 users in 2010.
In 2013, 17.3 million Americans (6.6 percent of the population) were dependent on alcohol or had problems related to their alcohol use (abuse). This is a decline from 18.1 million (or 7.7 percent) in 2002.
About Serenity Grove
Serenity Grove is a newly established high-acuity residential and outpatient alcohol and drug treatment center, treating clients from the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Serenity Grove was founded on the belief that addiction, technology addiction, and obesity are three of the nation’s most urgent and unmet health care challenges. Serenity Grove is affiliated with Athens Addiction Recovery Center located in Oconee County, Georgia.
Seeking help for addiction is a courageous and very difficult decision. Recovery is available to you at Serenity Grove, Athens, Georgia. We are here to help. Visit https://www.serenitygrove.com or call us at 706.389.5157, or email at info@serenitygrove.com and on Facebook @serenitygroveathensga.
