The first step is to call our central office, where you will be given an opportunity to speak directly with one of our intake specialists. These representatives will help you begin the treatment process by gathering some preliminary details and scheduling a time for you to meet with a counselor for a full substance abuse assessment. If you are calling for yourself, or if you are calling for a family member or friend, this intake process is the same and it is free and confidential! If you would prefer to have someone call you, please fill out our contact form in order to provide us with some basic information.

At ACER, we do not assume that a diagnosis of alcoholism or other addiction exists when people contact us for help. In order to make this determination, we provide expert assessment and evaluation services which can help you receive the answers you need to make informed decisions about your own, or a loved one's need for treatment. The goal of the assessment is to collect all of the relevant details that are essential to determining the appropriate level of care for each individual. At the conclusion of this one-time assessment process, the clinical assessor will use the details collected to provide you with guidance in the form of resources and treatment recommendations.

Some programs at ACER require total abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol, but clients do not have to be clean prior to beginning the assessment process. During the initial assessment, the clinician will determine if a client needs to be referred inpatient for detox, or if they are ready to begin one of our treatment programs.

Drug/alcohol addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, so a short-term, one-time intervention is often not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process that involves interventions at multiple levels. That’s why here at ACER we offer a variety of different treatment options that last for varying lengths of time. The assessment process is designed to help you and your counselor work together to determine the treatment program that will best meet your needs.

The programs at ACER are not defined by a specific number of days, but are based on individual needs and circumstances. The program length is often linked to the level of care assigned during the initial assessment and evaluation process. For the majority of our client’s suffering from substance abuse/dependence, our intensive outpatient program is often the most beneficial option. The average amount of time for completion of this program is between 8-12 weeks. We also offer our program graduates an opportunity to engage in long-term aftercare groups for up to a year following program completion. The intensive outpatient treatment can be a flexible option for people who might have a serious case of drug or alcohol abuse but are not appropriate for an inpatient facility. This level of treatment provides integrated clinical care through individual counseling, group therapy, educational and therapeutic programs, and personal interaction with peers. Again, all prospective clients must receive a thorough evaluation in order to determine if the intensive outpatient program is appropriate, or if another level of care would be more beneficial.

Some people who did not go to a formal treatment program have been successful through Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous alone. For many, however, the disease has progressed to a point where they need the added structure, support and clinical services that are provided in a more formal program. We encourage our program graduates to stay connected to recovery resources by getting involved in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. These meetings can provide lifelong connection and support following a more intensive treatment program like the one’s offered by ACER.

ACER is a Twelve Step based program that incorporates several other therapeutic strategies into the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The Twelve Steps are a foundation and guideline for living and are fully integrated into our treatment process. The Twelve Steps provide a framework to examine mental health, physical health, emotional well being, relationships, spirituality and more. Programs at ACER utilize a team of professionals representing several disciplines that analyze and work with each client on their individual issues from a holistic persepective - treating mind, body and spirit.

Family is an important component to an individual’s recovery. In many cases, the family relationships have become strained and distrustful due to behaviors over the course of a person’s addiction. Several options are available to family members at this point to help both the family and the substance abuser. The first includes family group sessions, in which the client can bring in important family members to take part in the group process. Another alternative can be family sessions, in which the client and family member(s) meet with a counselor for private sessions. Finally, referral to other groups such as Al-Anon or Nar-Anon so that the family members can learn more about substance abuse and interact with others who have had similar experiences.

Many people who come to ACER seeking treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction may also struggle with mental health issues, such as depression, eating disorders, grief, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This combination of addiction along with a mental health issue is called "co-occurring disorders" and, in fact, is quite common. ACER has staff of counselors on site who are skilled at addressing the complexity of issues around co-occurring disorders alongside the addiction to drugs and alcohol. We also offer counseling services for individuals who do not suffer from the disease of addiction.