First Step Services Review
First Step Services is an outpatient treatment organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It started out in 2001 in the small town of Garner, with only one therapist. In 2002, it became a fully licensed outpatient, Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and DUI substance abuse treatment program operating only on nights and weekends while founder and addiction recovery advocate Henry Tarkington kept a day job. By the fall of 2002, First Step Services had opened in Raleigh, but soon outgrew that facility. Today, the Raleigh facility spans 7,000 square feet and First Step Services has additional locations in Garner, Durham and Cary, North Carolina.
Treatment and Staff
First Step Services offers adults both short- and long-term outpatient programs and IOP treatment. There is also an adolescent IOP at the Cary location only. An initial on-site assessment determines which course of treatment is recommended. Group therapy is used and modalities such as the 12 steps, Motivational Interviewing (MI), CBT and the Stages of Change Model are all integrated into the First Step Services approach.
The short-term program typically consists of 20 to 30 hours of treatment, depending on the outcome of the assessment. It includes a minimum of seven three-hour group counseling sessions, usually spread out over no fewer than 30 days. These groups meet at each of the four outpatient locations at various times throughout the week to accommodate even the busiest schedules. The long-term substance abuse treatment program, sometimes referred to as Intermediate Level, includes a minimum of 14 three-hour group therapy sessions and one individual session, spread out over at least 60 days. Additional individual counseling sessions may also be recommended. The IOP program consists of 20 to 30 three-hour sessions of group, to be completed over the course of approximately three to four months.
The Cary location offers an adolescent program for those ages 14 to 18 that involves group therapy, individual counseling, family counseling and education. Groups meet three nights a week, with a Wednesday night multi-family treatment group that brings both the addict and his or her family into group therapy. The Monday and Thursday night groups are for the teen without the family. Both sets of groups focus on substance use and related issues, including peer pressure and the negative effects on parents and siblings.
The staff of each facility includes several certified substance abuse counselors and at least one Master’s-level therapist. Dr. Joshua Dittmer is the medical director and is based out of the Raleigh facility.
Extras
The FACE (Family and Community Education) program meets weekly in Raleigh. It helps families and concerned others learn about alcohol and drug abuse. FACE is primarily an educational program, though it does offer support for participants, and is for the community at large, so any one who wants to attend is welcome.
First Step Services also provides several alcohol and drug education programs that satisfy court, job, school and other requirements. These in an alcohol and drug education program, Prime for Life, and Alcohol and Drug Education Traffic School (ADETS). The programs each consist of four two-hour sessions and can be complete in less than a week to meet court requirements quickly and for a very low cost. The cost is $160 for ADETS and $185 for Prime for Life.
Aftercare includes continuing counseling at a cost of $5 per session, provided that the client has completed an outpatient program and remains abstinent from all substances.
First Step Services is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing for nurses who are required to attend treatment. Free drug and alcohol assessments are available to those over the age of 18.
In Summary
First Step Services provides low-cost addiction treatment throughout the Raleigh-Durham area. There are several programs to choose from and all have flexible hours and knowledgeable staff. From healthcare workers to adolescents, they offer North Carolina communities education, treatment and support.
First Step Services Locations
First Step Services
211 E Six Forks Rd, Ste 117
Raleigh, NC 27609
128 Quade Dr
Cary, NC 27513
1418 Aversboro Rd, Ste 201
Garner, NC 27529
3329 Chapel Hill Blvd, Ste 201
Durham, NC 27707
First Step Services Cost
$420 (20 hours), $1,800 (90 hours), $60 per group. Reach First Step Services by phone at (919) 833-8899 or by email at 1ststep@firststepnc.com. Find First Step Services on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn
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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.
