Editor’s note: Part of an ongoing series on the opioid crisis.
PORT MATILDA — Deep in the woods of Centre County, in Rush Township, is a small, gated community.
It was once the location of an upscale health spa where the well-to-do in Central Pennsylvania visited to relax, unwind and be pampered. The nine buildings dotted throughout the property’s wooded campus contain state-of-the-art facilities, including hot tubs, wave pools, exercise equipment and guest rooms rivaling any five-star hotel.
It still costs a pretty penny for a stay at the site; however, the new clientele may surprise people a bit.
St. Joseph Institute for Addiction has treated thousands of people addicted to drugs and alcohol through a program focusing on individualized treatment — a method rare in treatment facilities across the country, said Max Spiegel, vice president of digital strategies, Summit BHC, which runs the institute.
He does not understand why it is so rare, though, because, according to Spiegel, it works.
“We just do things a little different here, and when I say different, I don’t mean we have a radical approach to treatment,” said Spiegel, who has worked on the property for the last eight years. He is also a recovering alcoholic. “We take a good hard look at the individual in recovery and figure out their needs. From there, we create the treatment program our experts deem best for that particular individual.”
It is not cheap. A typical 30-day stay costs clients $18,500 to $26,500. The facility does not accept Medicare or the Access Card. In comparison, low-service treatment facilities cost $12,000 to $16,000 for a 30-day stay; medium-service facilities cost $18,000 to $28,000; and high-service facilities cost $32,000 to $45,000. (These numbers are based on a survey of 14 treatment facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.)
“Our clients are people who realize, or whose parents realize, they truly do have a substance abuse problem and that our programs can put them back on the right path,” said Spiegel. “We’ve had all types of clients here, from movie stars and sports heroes to soccer moms and city kids that are still covered under their parents’ insurance.”
INTENSIVE TREATMENT
Spiegel said clients of all sorts seek help at the facility. These include heroin and opioid users, alcoholics and people with cocaine and other stimulant addictions. Many have entered the facility following prescription medication abuse, while others have given in to peer pressures or have had problems with relapse.
The clients who seek treatment at St. Joseph want to get help, Spiegel said. They are not court appointed into the program, but instead, sign themselves into treatment, or are signed in by a parent or guardian.
“At many other treatment facilities, there are many, many people that just don’t want to be there,” said Spiegel. “We can’t say that about St. Joseph. Our clients know they have a problem and they also know the only way they can get help is through intensive, personal treatment … exactly what we offer them here.”
Spiegel said the facility can accommodate up to 30 people at a time, both male and female. Housing facilities are scattered throughout the buildings, separating males from females. A structured day includes community meals, group and individual treatment and exercise and fitness routines.
“Individual counseling is the core of our program,” said Spiegel. “Our counselors work with clients on emption regulation, behavior modification and cognitive functioning pertaining to beliefs, thoughts, attitudes and rules about life.
“Our clients also participate in family and group counseling, practicing effective life skills like communication, decision-making and conflict resolution,” he continued.
Recreation time allows the clients to socialize, and there are plenty of opportunities on the 62-acre site when time permits. Spiegel said the basketball courts and pool table are popular, as are the miles of walking trails that snake their way through the campus.
“We believe a healthy body parallels a healthy mind,” said Spiegel. “We encourage as much physical exercise as we can, and our clientele seem to enjoy this aspect of our treatment approach.”
RECOVERY EDUCATION
The facility also stresses recovery education. Spiegel said the comprehensive education program at St. Joseph gives clients the tools to support their path toward healing. He said in daily group classes, the instructors provide lectures, materials and discussions about a variety of topics, including the physiology of addiction, co-occurring addictions, understanding self-destructive behavior, healing emotional wounding, finding balance, managing stress and establishing a spiritual foundation for recovery.
So, does the program work?
According to Spiegel, it does. He does admit it is very hard to gauge the success of individuals after they leave treatment in Centre County.
“It’s very difficult to track how people are doing after they leave the facility,” said Spiegel. “But, from my experience, and talking with people who have gone through our program, it does work. We have continuing support for our graduates through regular follow-up, reunions, online seminars and group discussions.”
St. Joseph Institute is located at 134 Jacobs Way. For more information, call (888) 777-1098 or visit www.stjosephinstitute.com.
