Silkworth Lodge Review
Silkworth Lodge is the only drug and alcohol treatment facility in the Channel Islands. Located on Jersey, the largest of these isles just north of Normandy, France, the program offers treatment for drug and alcohol addiction based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The facility was founded in 2002 and funded by two local charities—The Families in Recovery Trust and the Silkworth Charity Group—both of which support those trying to recover from alcohol and drug addiction. Silkworth Lodge gets its name from an original champion of AA, Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, who penned the famous “Doctor’s Opinion” chapter of the AA Big Book and is considered a saint among the original founders of AA for his research and work with recovering alcoholics.
Accommodations and Food
A small residential rehab, Silkworth Lodge can accommodate up to 12 clients. Its aim is to create a family home where the tools for sobriety are offered. In fitting with that philosophy, it’s a no-frills approach.
The decor is similar to a humble family residence. Rooms have bare-bones furnishings and budget hotel-like window treatments and dressings; though sparse, everything is clean and tidy. Food at Silkworth Lodge is prepared by an experienced chef who focuses on nutritious meals in support of healthy living. There is no gym on the premises, but bi-weekly trips to a local gym are a required part of rehabilitation.
Treatment and Staff
Upon arrival, each resident is assessed by a counselor and assigned a recovery “buddy” to help with the transition. After an on-site detox, clients participate in individual and group therapy; there’s also a weekly family program, where family dynamic issues specific to their shared recovery are discussed. Staff include alcohol and drug recovery counselors, house managers and an on-site medical staff including an MD.
Overall, treatment is separated into two abstinence-based programs, primary and secondary. Primary treatment lasts between six to 12 weeks and includes CBT, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and relapse prevention. For those with outside obligations that might make a longer stay a challenge, there’s also Silkworth’s Foundation Program, a condensed course focusing on only the recovery fundamentals.
Once residents have completed the primary program, there’s the option for extended care at a halfway house for secondary treatment. In secondary care, clients live in a group setting, sharing household responsibilities with others in recovery where they have round-the-clock staff support.
Finally, residents may then choose to live independently at a third sober living residence. At this point, they care for themselves and do not have support staff. Aftercare is available as well, and weekly appointments with counselors are encouraged.
Aside from having the rare distinction of being a rehab in the Channel Islands, Silkworth Lodge is also very proud of its recovery statistics. According to its calculations, an impressive number of alumni have maintained their sobriety; 74% of former drug addict clients have remained sober and 83% of former alcoholics have stayed sober.
In Summary
For the most part, Silkworth Lodge is a basic, 12-step based recovery program with an honorable lineage. It’s nothing particularly fancy, but it could be a great fit for the individual seeking a remote destination and plenty of 12-step work.
Silkworth Lodge Location
6 Vauxhall St
Jersey JE2 4TJ
United Kingdom
Silkworth Lodge Cost
$4,000-$12,000 (depending on need) [per publishing day exchange rate]. Reach Silkworth Lodge by phone at 011 44 1534 72 9060 or by email at info@silkworthlodge.co.uk. Find Silkworth Lodge on Twitter and YouTube
Do you have a complaint or review of Silkworth Lodge to add? Use the comments area below to add your Silkworth Lodge review.
Photo courtesy of By Jersey Tourism (originally posted to Flickr as 2011de-008_300) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via WikimediaCommons (resized and cropped)
Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
