1. Admissions: I was told they would be flexible with my use of electronics. Not true. You will have to cause a scene, beg, and expect an act of God for this to happen. Upon arrival you will be strip searched and naked squat and cough. They will take all of your stuff and wash your clothes. They will give you a prison like jump suit to wear until your laundry is finished. You will be given nothing unless you ask for it. Towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, water, etc. You will be tossed in a room with strangers and will have nothing for about 24 hours.
2. Sleeping quarters: 3 to a room and high turnover. Men and women not separated. Detox and inpatient not separated. Twin beds that are squeaky, ancient, and should be replaced. One tiny lamp. TV with apps so bring your log in info. Shower was full of mold. Be sure to ask for a shower mat. You won’t be given one. Towels are old, itty bitty and bleach stained. They will be taken by housekeeping and will not be replaced. You have to ask for them and more often than not, there are none. Same with bedding. Seems they have maybe two extra bed clothes sets. Pillows are flat. I suggest you bring your own pillow and possibly bed clothes and towels.
3. Dining : Expect the traditional breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes. Lunch and dinner are usually high carb/fatty meals such as pasta, hot dogs, tacos, tater tots, chili, rice and a frozen veg mixture. For dinner there is usually a salad option. Sometimes at lunch. This will be the only vegetable you will see. The grazing table is granola bars, butter cookies, potato chips, pretzels, pre wrapped mini bagels, jelly and sometimes peanut butter and bread. Mini muffins are stocked about once every 2 days. Run of the mill corn flakes, fruit loops and crushed Oreo. Milk runs out frequently. Toaster doesn’t work. Coffee is bulk something and they ran out 2 of the 10 days I was there. How do you run out of coffee? Un chilled creamer and sugar packets are available. Tea. Apples, bananas, oranges are the fresh fruit. Ran out for 2 days in a row while I was there. The other option is prepackaged mixed fruit that has either been frozen or left in the refrigerator for way too long so it’s sour and mealy. No idea why they don’t serve fresh fruit. I watched them cut it up and didn’t see it for 4 days. Half ham and cheese sandwiches are available and stocked once a day. They go pretty quickly. Although oddly made, they are a lifesaver. Kitchen workers are rude and unaccommodating. Good luck requesting something not being served like a hard boiled egg or protein on your salad. Very lame on the chocolate and sugar game. Sort of what ya need when detoxing.
4. Staff: Most BHT’s are doing the best they can with what they have. Most have been there less than a year. Red flag here. Requesting something will take hours or even days. They are mostly dealing with drama , intakes, AMA’s and discharges. When there is a shift change, there is little to no communication about what needs to be addressed. They check your room about every 5 minutes at night. This a due to the inferior system they are using. You will be wearing a beacon but they have to be 5 feet from you for the iPad to read it. They check person by person, not room by room. One will come to check on bed one, 5 minutes later bed 2, 5 minutes later bed 3. You will have very little sleep unless you are sedated.
5. Medication and Dr.’s: They will give you the run of the mill meds for detox. Ativan. Suboxone if needed but for some, not enough. You will be sick. Nursing staff has zero sense of urgency so you will pretty much be on your own going through this. Outside of detox, if you have other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or anything else they are not equipt to handle. Multiple people had to be rushed to the hospital because medical staff did not listen to residents medical needs or notice obvious side effects and symptoms. Therapists are on a power trip. Go to the classes with external Dr’s.
