The Basics
With a 35-year history of service to Wisconsinites, Meriter Hospital in Madison is considered one of the top health facilities in the country, offering a wide range of benefits— including substance abuse treatment through NewStart, their outpatient program for adults and adolescents. For those in need, NewStart also offers detox for adult clients, where physicians help stabilize and assist with medication management before clients enter the Intensive Outpatient Program(IOP). Staff at NewStart are equipped to diagnose and treat those with co-occurring disorders.
Treatment and Staff
Upon arrival, clients are given assessments and physicians provide assistance with medication— including Suboxone for opiate addiction. For the first 30 to 45 days of treatment, clients attend group therapy for three hours a day, four days a week (with times available in the morning or evening) and it is recommended that they are accompanied by a family member. Groups of 10 or more meet in the morning hours; clients are divided into two smaller groups for evening sessions. While individual therapy is not a requirement of the program, it is available if needed. Clients are also not required to attend 12-step meetings or SMART recovery during IOP but it is encouraged.
Upon completion of IOP, clients work with counselors to develop a plan for long-term recovery. Educational and continuing care groups are offered once a week for six weeks after IOP, as well as individual counseling and medication management services.
The adolescent program treats kids between the ages of 12 and 18. These young clients and their families meet with staff and develop individualized treatment plans. They are assigned counselors for individual therapy who will work with them through IOP and outpatient treatment. Group therapy is focused on chemical dependency education and the development of interpersonal skills. During IOP, clients attend one-on-one and family therapy twice a week. Continued care is available in the teen program as well, with a particular focus on relapse prevention.
NewStart staff consists of physicians, nurses, LSWs, LADCs, Master’s-level clinicians and medical technicians.
Extras
NewStart encourages family involvement in the adult program and requires it in adolescent treatment, so family therapy is available at all levels. Hearing-impaired services are also available.
NewStart is located in Madison, WI which has a great public transportation system, making treatment more accessible for those without cars.
In Summary
NewStart is a great treatment option for adults and adolescents in the Madison area and their easily accessible facility makes it ideal for those who rely on public transportation. While a hospital-like setting may dissuade some, the advantage is access to some of the best physicians in the state, with the capability of treating co-occurring mental health issues along with chemical dependency. Those looking for a foundation in 12-step recovery or evidenced-based treatment will not find it here. However, NewStarts’ specialized program for adolescents and their highly rated medical staff are definitely benefits that makes this facility stand out.
Meriter NewStart
1015 Gammon Lane
Madison, WI, 53719
Meriter NewStart Cost: Insurance only (30 days). Reach Meriter NewStart by phone at (608) 417-8144.
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Photo courtesy of WIEUG
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.
