OUR DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER IS DIFFERENT

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Your own counselor who specializes in addiction therapy
A strong relapse prevention component

A strong mental health component
Medical care that is more than just detoxification
Worry-free travel
Private rooms
A strong fitness component

OUR PHILOSOPHY

You’re an adult and we treat you like one
A recovery that is more than mere abstinence

YOUR PEER GROUP

More meaningful friendships, less romance
Societal expectations of men and women are different
Men and women have different issues
We refer disruptive clients to other programs

OUR LOCATION

An unparalleled setting
A location far removed from high-risk people, places, and things

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

Your circle of support is critical

YOUR OPINION MATTERS
Client feedback and assessment during treatment

INTRODUCTION

When individuals and family members struggling with alcohol or drug addiction begin searching for treatment, they typically go through a process of elimination to arrive at their choice.
The first consideration is primarily a financial one and determines whether a client goes with a government-funded or private rehabilitation program.
As Sunshine Coast, we have found that there are many reasons why people choose private treatment even though they realize that it will cost more than public treatment. These reasons include:

shorter waiting lists,
no “clean time” restrictions ¹ before admission,
a higher-functioning peer group,
longer length of stay, and
better services and amenities.

However, once the decision is made to go with private drug rehabilitation treatment, narrowing down to one treatment center becomes more challenging. If you are having trouble distinguishing one private treatment center from another, we can understand why. Typically, private alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs offer glowing testimonials and lots of pretty pictures. Treatment centers hope that you will be impressed enough by what you see to pick up the phone and continue your inquiry over the phone. In other words, the purpose of the website is not really to inform but to motivate you to call for further information.
At Sunshine Coast Health Center, we are committed to a policy of “transparency” through straight talk, openness, and accountability. This holds true whether you are browsing on the web or speaking to one of our Admissions staff.
Sunshine Coast Health Center has prepared this article to highlight some of the ways we believe our drug rehabilitation center is different.
(1) Note: “Clean time” is a period of time (normally 3 to 5 days) that programs without in-house detoxification services typically require due to a lack of medical personnel on staff.

OUR REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Your Own Counselor Specializing in Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation

When clients are in drug treatment, they often feel misunderstood and believe that their circumstances are different than those of their peers. As a result, clients often prefer to discuss difficult issues privately with their counsellor rather than in group therapy.
Sunshine Coast provides each client their own counselor who is assigned to them right through to the completion of treatment. In addition, on a weekly basis, all counsellors work exclusively with their assigned clients as a group which provides additional time for clients to work directly with their assigned counsellor.
For more information on our team of addiction counselors and their qualifications refer to the Meet our Staff section.

A STRONG RELAPSE PREVENTION COMPONENT IN OUR DRUG REHAB

At Sunshine Coast Health Center, we recognize that relapse is an inherent characteristic of addiction that often occurs after a client completes treatment and has returned to his home community. Therefore, since relapse is often part of the recovery journey, clients are encouraged to stay engaged with their counsellor and alumni support person to work through the guilt and shame that often accompanies relapse.

Sunshine Coast understands the importance of continued engagement with clients and has designed innovative methods to stay connected such as: (1) the weekly Online Support program where clients have the opportunity to reach out via the internet, (2)the complimentary Refresher Weekend Program - 2 or 3 day stays where alumni who are stable in recovery can reconnect with staff and rejoin the peer group, (3) annual alumni reunions and dinners held in key communities in BC and Alberta, and (4) flexible, shorter-length, more affordable stays for alumni whose relapse has progressed to the point where a higher intensity of treatment is required.

SERVICES & AMENITIES IN OUR ALCOHOL & DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER

Rehabilitation with a Strong Mental Health Component

Your stay at Sunshine Coast Health Center begins with a comprehensive mental health assessment based on DSM-IV criteria. Our psychiatrist, Dr. Stuart Howard, is a psychiatrist with many years of experience helping adults struggling with depression, anxiety and other behavioural problems.

Our Nursing Supervisor, Tracy Martin, brings a wealth of experience gained from 25 years of psychiatric nursing.

For more information on assessment at Sunshine Coast Health Center see the Assessment Services section of this website.

Medical Care that is More Than Just Detoxification

Medical care during drug rehabilitation should be more than just detoxification. At Sunshine Coast, detoxification is just the first phase of addressing the physical impact of drug or alcohol abuse. For example, our medical staff is committed to:

(1) diagnosing any pre-existing medical conditions that clients may be unaware of have neglected during the active stage of their addiction. The most common of these are diabetes, high blood pressure, and communicable diseases. Our Medical Director may request lab work to help confirm a diagnosis. While disclosure of infection or disease is never easy, we believe that it is better to be in a safe place when a client is coming to terms with illness. We find that most clients quickly come to terms with their medical situation, ready to renew their commitment to living a long, healthy, productive life.

(2) helping clients manage their prescription medications. Clients often require a daily regimen of prescription drugs for a variety of medical conditions. With a full-time nurse available Monday to Friday, our clients benefit from having a professional on-site to oversee the dispensing of medications. Adverse reactions are promptly forwarded to the Medical Director or Psychiatrist and dealt with in a timely fashion.

(3) helping clients understand the medical aspects of their addiction. Having medical professionals on-site allows us to educate clients about the medical consequences of continued drug or alcohol use.

For more information on Sunshine Coast detox services see the Alcohol & Drug Detox Services section.

Worry-free Travel to our Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

Families often worry that clients making the journey to treatment will have a change of heart prior to arrival and will end up, for example, at an airport bar or simply “disappear” to seek out their drug of choice.

Sunshine Coast Health Center is committed to making travel hassle-free. For example, clients arriving at the airport in Vancouver or Comox ¹ will be promptly greeted by a Sunshine Coast representative who will ensure their safe transfer for the flight to Powell River. Upon arrival at the airport in Powell River, clients will be promptly shuttled directly to the Sunshine Coast campus to begin their treatment.

For more information, including air and car travel directions see the Travel to Powell River section.

(1) Source: Travel assistance is also available for clients ferrying to Powell River from Vancouver Island or the Lower Sunshine Coast aboard BC Ferries.

PRIVATE ROOMS IN OUR ALCHOL & DRUG REHAB

While we recognize the power of the peer group as a vital component of residential drug rehabilitation, we understand when a client prefers to have his own bedroom. For an additional fee, clients can be guaranteed a private room.
Sunshine Coast Health Center is proud to be one of the first treatment centers in North America to offer private accommodations. Clients who don’t mind having a roommate will stay in semi-private (2 to a room) accommodations.

A STRONG FITNESS COMPONENT THAT IS PART OF YOUR DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM

As William Glasser stated in his book Positive Addictions ¹, fitness is an excellent replacement for destructive activities such as the compulsive use of drugs and alcohol. At Sunshine Coast, clients are encouraged to get back in shape on a schedule based on their present condition and goals. To support clients in this process, Sunshine Coast has a fitness therapist with a degree in Kinesiology. Based on an initial assessment and stated goals, the fitness therapist will develop a customized plan that will guide clients during treatment and following a return to their home community.
Fitness amenities at Sunshine Coast include a fully-equipped gym and lap pool. Scheduled fitness activities at Sunshine Coast Health Center include daily walks and weekly off-site recreation activities such as hikes, trips to the local recreation complex, and mini-golf ².
(1) Source: William Glasser, MD (1974) Positive Addictions.
(2) Note: weather permitting.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

This is a Program for Adults So You Are Treated Like One

We understand that honesty and integrity are issues that clients need to address while in alcohol and drug rehabilitation, however, our motto “Your Partner in Recovery” reflects our commitment to treat clients with the respect they deserve. We see constant supervision and excessive regulation as detrimental to our relationship with clients. Since our opening in March 2004, less than 1 percent of clients have been discharged due to drug or alcohol use while in treatment. Similar to the landmark study, Rat Park, conducted by Canadian psychologist Bruce K. Alexander and his colleagues at Simon Fraser University, Sunshine Coast has learned that a nurturing environment can have an immediate, positive impact on the suffering experienced by clients with drug and alcohol addictions.

Recovery that is more than Mere Abstinence

We recognize that lives consumed with finding and using drugs and alcohol effects the mind, body, and spirit. Using a Biopsychosocial model that addresses all health dimensions, clients are prepared to live lives where the void left from stopping drugs or alcohol will be filled with filled with positive changes to lifestyle and relationship choices.
While in drug rehabilitation treatment, clients begin to experience what is possible in living a life of sobriety. Activities include (1) weekly off-site recreation trips, (2) full use of the fitness center, (3) art expression classes in the evening, (4) off-site AA and NA meetings, and more.
A fully-equipped gym, relaxation therapy, massage therapy, and nutritious menu plan are just some of the ways we’re committed to having clients live a balanced life in recovery.

YOUR PEER GROUP

When we ask our clients what is the best thing about our drug rehabilitation program, the power of their peer group is usually at the top of the list. Why is this so? Our experience with many mature, successful men is that they have lost, what Herb Goldberg calls, the “Lost Art of Buddyship": "the experience of having a caring, sharing, and loving relationship with another man – one in which great pleasure is taken in the accomplishment of the other, just as if it were happening to oneself." ¹

(1) Source: The Hazards of Being Male: Surviving the Myth of Masculine Privilege (1976) Herb Goldberg, Ph.D.

Meaningful Friendships, Less Romance
The benefits of a male-only program include:

More meaningful, lasting friendships
More similarities with fellow peers (life experiences, interests, etc.)
More freedom to express feelings and emotions
Less attention-seeking behaviour (women flirt while men posture)
Less time focusing on house rules designed to separate sexes

Addiction can strain the strongest of marriages and we’re committed to enhancing, not complicating, your relationship by removing the risk of romance altogether.

A close peer group free from such distractions allows our counselors to focus on the individual, not the group.

Societal expectations of men and women are different

While we recognize that men and women both experience shame and society’s disapproval of drug and alcohol addiction, men often struggle with stereotypes that encourage men to drink. Moreover, men often learn to show strength when expressing their feelings (i.e. anger, violence, or sex); being vulnerable is equated with femininity, even weakness. While women are taught to take care of everyone else’s needs, men are taught to focus on being the provider.
Our counselors find that clients are able to identify and relate to these societal expectations more effectively in a male-only environment.

Men and Women in Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation have Different Issues

For the most part, men who are chemically dependent have very different issues from chemically dependent women. Research has found that women seeking treatment for alcohol or other drug problems have more severe problems1 than men seeking treatment; and tend to have experienced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.2 Women also report more physical and mental health problems such as eating disorders3, and greater concerns about child-related issues.2
According to Residence XII, a Seattle-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for women, 8 in 10 women in treatment at their facility suffer from some form of trauma or domestic violence in their history.4
Men, on the other hand, struggle with a meaningful communication, isolation and anger5.

Sources:

(1) Source: Arfken, CL; Klein, C; di Menza, S.; and Schuster, C.R. (2001) Gender differences in problem severity at assessment and treatment retention. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 20:53-57.

(2) Source: Wechsberg, W.M.; Craddock, S.G.; and Hubbard, R.L. How are women who enter substance abuse treatment different from men? A gender comparison from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study. Drugs & Society 13:97-115, 1998.

(3) Source: Brady, K.T.; Grice, D.E.; Dustan, L.; and Randall, C. Gender differences in substance use disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry 150:1707-1711, 1993.

(4) Source: Barnash, S. Gender-specific treatment for women with alcohol dependency. Residence XII website article.

(5) Source: “Out of the Box” Male-Specific Treatment for Chemical Dependency (February 2005) Alan Philp Lyme, Counselor Magazine, October, 2006.

We Refer Disruptive Clients to Other Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs
Having a smaller drug rehabilitation center provides many benefits such as individualized care, a greater sense of privacy, and enhanced relationships with peers. Having a smaller rehabilitation facility, however, can work both ways. For better or worse, individual clients will have a bigger impact on a smaller peer group. Sunshine Coast often refers clients who prefer a more structured, directive approach to larger treatment centers.

OUR LOCATION

A Drug Rehabilitation Center with an Unparalleled Setting

With the cost of waterfront property, it’s no wonder that few alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers have beach access or an ocean view. Typically, clients who prefer to stay in a drug rehabilitation facility near the ocean go to Malibu, California but can expect to pay substantially more for their treatment.
Sunshine Coast Health Center has both private beach access and a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.
For photos see the Photo Gallery section.

A Location Far Removed from High Risk People, Places, and Things

Sunshine Coast Health Center is a 15 minute drive south of Powell River, a town of approximately 25,000 people. Our 5-acre campus is far-removed from the hustle and bustle of city life that can often trigger clients who are struggling to maintain abstinence.
Furthermore, clients have to think twice before leaving treatment early since ferries and airplanes are the only way to leave Powell River. This allows critical time for clients to reflect and consider the costs of terminating rehabilitation treatment early and renew their commitment to sobriety.
For more information on Powell River see the Travel to Powell River section.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

Complimentary Participation in the Family & Couples Program

We think your circle of support is so critical to your long-term recovery that we offer significant others complimentary participation in our Family & Couples Program. Many family programs charge up to $1500 per person.
There is no limit on the number of significant others that can participate ¹. If scheduling for the Family Program is an issue, friends and family can participate in the Family Program after their loved one has completed treatment.
See the Family & Couples Program section to register.

(1) Note: to allow other clients the opportunity to have their own family members in the program, significant others of one client exceeding three will be wait-listed and contacted if there are available seats.

Complimentary Participation in Family Online Support
Sunshine Coast Health Center also offers Family Online Support for those who complete the Family & Couples Program. This program is also complimentary and provides ongoing weekly lessons and support for significant others.
For more information refer to the Online Support Program section.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS

CLIENT FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT DURING REHABILITATION

The field of addiction and mental health is not known for great customer service. At Sunshine Coast Health Center, we believe that drug rehabilitation should be a positive experience from both a clinical and hospitality perspective. At regular intervals throughout their stay, clients are surveyed on their satisfaction with the program (psychoeducation, therapy sessions), facility, and amenities. Also, clients are assessed on an ongoing basis to see if there is improvement in depression, anxiety, and substance cravings over the course of their stay.

For more information on Assessment at Sunshine Coast see the Assessment Services section.