Should I go to Treatment During the Pandemic? | Sunrise House Treatment Center
Battling a substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be scary. And a substance addiction may get worse, which means treatment should be a priority. However, some may believe that they are putting themselves in harm’s way during this pandemic if they make the decision to start treatment now. The truth is, everyone puts themselves at risk with the coronavirus just by going to the store, a doctor’s office, or going to the post office, although these outings are minimal risks by social distancing and wearing a mask. Essential medical care such as substance treatment, should not be put on hold.
Sunrise House Treatment Center is one of the American Addiction Centers’ (AAC) facilities. AAC is a nationwide leader in addiction treatment, including Sunrise House located in New Jersey. The facility provides medical detox, residential treatment, and aftercare planning. It also provides individual therapy, music therapy, mindfulness/reflections, and group therapy.
Group therapy includes:
- Co-occurring disorders.
- LGBTQ+ specialized treatment.
- Gender-specific.
- And anger management courses.
COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Treatment
With a facility that takes the proper safety precautions and follows updated guidelines created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk in contracting COVID-19 should be at a minimum.
Sunrise House Treatment Center provides a safe environment for both patients and staff. As of this writing, the state of New Jersey, as well as our facility, is under a mask mandate. This means that all staff, patients, and permitted visitors are required to wear a face covering at all times in the dining hall, group therapy, and in common areas.
Our safety protocol steps:
- Although patients are not required to be vaccinated, they will be asked if they have been. And if so, the individual should bring their vaccination card to the facility.
- Screening questions will be asked regarding possible exposure, travel history, or contact with someone who has traveled in areas of concern.
- As an additional safety screening, AAC’s own lab conducts COVID-19 testing. Our testing is 100% confidential, we remain HIPAA compliant, and all patients being admitted to our facilities are eligible for the test. Those who test positive, will not be admitted into treatment in order to keep other patients and staff safe.
- Staff monitoring. Any staff that may have been potentially exposed to the virus is asked to self-isolate for 14 days with no symptoms from the point of exposure.
- Specialized treatment. Due to the anxiety that many individuals are experiencing because of the pandemic, our therapists are not only trained in the effects of anxiety due to COVID-19, but they also run groups to help those struggling.
- Facility hygiene. This includes regular disinfecting and deep cleaning multiple times a day; ensuring that individuals are social distancing, washing their hands, and limiting essential personnel to enter the facility (staff and patients only).
The pandemic is scary and feels uncertain for so many different reasons. And perhaps individuals may feel the same way about their SUD or AUD. And that’s okay. Sunrise House Treatment Center is here to help you with those concerns, as well as to help you live a life of long-term sobriety.
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