Expert

Mark B. Kastleman
View BioFacility Name | Address | State | City | Phone | Website |
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Facility Name | Address | State | City | Phone | Website |
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The Utah State Legislature has been busy over the past several years putting forward a number of bills aimed at combating substance abuse issues within the state, most particularly the opioid crisis. Among those bills are:
House Bill 11 (2014) allows bystanders to an overdose to report that overdose (to law enforcement or emergency medical professionals, for example) without the fear of being prosecuted for possession of an illicit substance themselves.
House Bill 50 (2017) limits the number of days for which an opiate may be prescribed for certain individuals.
House Bill 175 (2017) requires prescribers to complete training in a nationally-recognized opioid screening method.
House Bill 119 (2014) permits doctors to prescribe naloxone or similarly acting “opiate antagonists” to individuals at increased risk of an opiate-related overdose, as well as to family members, friends, and others in a position to assist someone at increased risk.
House Bill 286 (2017) establishes a process that allows family members to intervene and petition for the court-ordered intervention and treatment of an individual suffering from a substance use disorder.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) reports the following Utah drug rehab stats:
211
89
34
29
10
30
63
23
12
5
3
4
169
75
24
25
6
27
54
30
11
4
1
3
62
27
8
9
1
9
89
41
14
10
2
11
173
73
28
21
6
21
The following programs are among some of the best drug treatment centers in Utah.
Trolley Corners Building
515 South 700 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(385) 313-0055
Located in the Central City neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Red Willow Counseling & Recovery provides a range of outpatient therapy and treatment-related services, including addiction intervention, drug and alcohol assessment, as well as individual, group, family, and couples therapy for substance abuse and drug and alcohol addiction. In addition to substance abuse and process disorders, Red Willow specializes in the treatment of a wide variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Numerous private insurance plans are accepted, and Red Willow offers a sliding scale fee payment option.
1708 East 5550 South #23
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 475-4673
Boasting a staff with over 100 years of combined experience in the alcohol and drug addiction treatment field, Action Recovery Group in South Ogden provides the self-described “4 essentials of addiction treatment and recovery”: detoxification, intensive day treatment, an intensive evening treatment program, and aftercare. Action Recovery’s affordable programs feature a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, wellness, and the 12-step modality of treatment. A free clinical assessment is available to anyone concerned about a substance abuse problem that is designed to assess and understand the individual’s level of dependence or addiction and determine the most effective form of treatment.
Pomarri Drug Rehab & Addiction center offers a variety of outpatient drug and alcohol detoxification and treatment services at their Orem location. Detoxification programs last from eight to 12 weeks on the belief that a longer detox episode results in lower relapse rates. Intensive outpatient programs are available both during the day and in the evening. Pomarri additionally offers court-ordered drug classes, including substance abuse assessment and treatment programs. Out-of-network insurance from a variety of providers is accepted, and Pomarri offers payment on a sliding fee scale.
6771 South 900 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84047
(877) 890-0248
Next Level Recovery (NLR) provides a number of evidence-based outpatient alcohol and substance abuse services at its Salt Lake City facility. NLR designs a patient-centered treatment plan for each individual, employing a “whole-life” approach that includes relationships, career, health and psychological well-being. NLR features a specific program for young adults and adults to assist with challenges associated with neurological differences. NLR partners with its sister-company, Sober Living Properties (SLP), which provides affordable sober housing at five locations along the Wasatch Front. NLR/SLP accepts most insurance plans and offers a variety of programs designed to help funding, including zero percent financing for a minimum of 12 months, as well as full and partial scholarships.
385 West 4800 South
Murray, UT 84123
(888) 986-7848
Recovery Ways offers a continuum of care for all patients with a range of programs that include medically supervised inpatient detoxification, inpatient residential treatment, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), and sober living. PHP and IOP services are provided as primary or step-down care as determined by assessment based on medical necessity. Additional services include aftercare, an alumni recovery support program, virtual IOP, and TeleHealth technology that allows patients to receive therapy, counseling, and pharmacological management via the internet. Noting that veterans with a substance abuse problem often additionally suffer with co-occurring PTSD, Recovery Ways treats veterans with addiction and PTSD issues.
12595 S. Minuteman Dr.
Draper, UT 84020
(877) 395-5008
Located in Draper, approximately 20 miles south of Salt Lake City, Youth Care Treatment Center treats adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 for a range of issues, including substance abuse, and mood and behavioral disorders. Programs offered include residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), behavior modification, family treatment, and recreational treatment. Treatment may also include experiential rehab therapies. Youth Care also offers a fully-accredited academic program staffed by certified secondary and special education teachers with specialized training for working with students with learning and behavioral difficulties. All Youth Care students additionally participate in community service activities at least twice each month.
Annie’s House is an alcohol and drug addiction recovery center owned by, run by, and exclusively for women. Its stated mission is to “provide women with a safe, healthy, and productive environment, committed to the continuing success and spiritual growth of those desiring to live clean, sober, and addiction-free, one day at a time.” Both inpatient residential and flexible day treatment programs are available. Annie’s House understands that affordability is often a determining factor for women in deciding whether or not to seek help, and strives to ensure that excellent care is within the reach of every woman.
49 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
(844) 505-4490
The Discovery House Comprehensive Treatment Center in Salt Lake City provides comprehensive care to both adult men and women who have been suffering with an opioid addiction problem for one year or longer. Treatment consists of a combination of medication assisted treatment (Methadone, Subutex, Suboxone) and evidence-based therapeutic interventions (individual, group, and family counseling). This comprehensive treatment approach enables patients to “combat both the physical and psychological components that have previously tainted their abilities to overcome their addictions.” Discovery House accepts Medicaid and most private insurance plans. In addition to its Salt Lake City center, Discovery House three additional locations in Orem, Layton, and Taylorsville.
974 E. South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 533-0070
The Haven is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing treatment for substance abuse disorders since 1969. Located near downtown Salt Lake City, The Haven is offers both residential and sober living services to men and women suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Its stated mission is to provide “effective and affordable treatment services based on an individual’s need, rather than their ability to pay.” Programs at The Haven are peer-driven, with a strong emphasis on the group therapy process and dual diagnosis, treating mental illness issues along with substance abuse disorders. The Haven also features a large community of alumni support.
Cirque Lodge is a 16-bed private luxury alcohol and drug rehab in Utah, located directly below the Cascade Cirque in the Wasatch Range of the Utah Rocky Mountains. Treatment services include detoxification and residential inpatient programs, among others. Treatment modalities employed at Cirque Lodge include experiential therapy, cognitive therapy, multi-systemic family therapy, and a vigorous 12-step component. A wide range of luxury amenities are provided, including equine therapy, art therapy, yoga, meditation, hiking, snowshoeing, fishing, rafting, and more. Cirque Lodge also operates The Studio, a 44-bed luxury center located at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in Orem.
Mark B. Kastleman, BCC, BCPC, is the Executive Director for Action Recovery Group, a substance abuse IOP in Ogden Utah. Mark is also a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor with a specialty in sexual addiction treatment.
We are an intensive outpatient program and we treat alcohol and drug addiction. We are a small, local operation in Ogden, Utah, which is an area with a very long history of substance abuse and alcohol issues. So, a fairly small town with a lot of very big problems.
That one’s pretty easy. The biggest trend that we’re seeing here in our local area, as well as Utah and I think in many areas of the country, is the very big spike in opiate use. It’s coming in two forms. One is individuals who are hooked in some way on prescription pain killers of various shapes and sizes. And when they either run out of a prescription or can’t afford them anymore, they turn to the much cheaper version: heroin.
We still see a general mix of the other typical drugs, you know, cocaine and meth. But it’s pretty minor compared to the opioid epidemic. And I’m not seeing as much anymore with regard to alcohol, which is interesting. In fact, I was talking with my clinical director about that last week, and I said, “Why do you suppose it is that we’re seeing fewer and fewer people in here for alcohol addiction?” And his insight on it was that alcohol has really traditionally been the drug of choice for the older generation, and it’s just not nearly as popular among the younger crowd. Yes, there are still social drinkers. They’ll use alcohol to enhance their other drug use. But we’re seeing less and less where that’s the primary.
I think people began to request it more and more. It just became an expectation. I even notice in my own personal life, going to a dental procedure or some minor thing. Doctors have been pretty ready and willing to prescribe pain pills. And not just one or two, it’s a full on prescription, fifteen or twenty pills. And I think that a lot of people who don’t end up using those, they end up in the medicine cabinet. And what we’ve seen a lot here are teens finding those and then taking them to school and selling them.
Yes, we are. It may be the most disturbing trend we’ve ever seen, just because fentanyl is so incredibly potent. There’s no quality control, you really don’t know what you’re getting. Most of it is coming out of China. And we’re finding that it can kill people instantly. I mean, the OD rate for fentanyl is really skyrocketing. It’s just a wild horse that is really causing us great concern.
Yeah, it’s giving the heroin a bigger kick and bringing the price down even further because fentanyl is so cheap. You can even buy the stuff online and use it to put in other things. And it’s just incredibly inexpensive. That’s the other part that’s really given it a foothold.
I don’t see this epidemic slowing down, I really don’t. You know, I think that we can put up billboards, put out all kinds of messages, but just as we’ve seen in the schools over a long time – programs like the DARE program, where kids are told about the dangers – the rate of addiction has not slowed down because of those information campaigns. We need more treatment options for people, we need them to be made more available in our communities. And I would like to see the government come in with some real, in-the-trenches things to help with treatment availability. Standard insurance is just not going to get it done anymore. We’re all just trying to keep our heads above water, meeting the demand and the need, that no one has the time to strategically step back and look at what needs to happen with this long-term. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.
If you are considering an addiction rehab center in Utah, you are not alone. With its deeply-rooted religious foundation and strong reputation for traditional, family-centered values, it may come as a surprise to many that Utah has not escaped the devastation of substance abuse and drug addiction affecting the rest of the United States. This is true not only in terms of overall drug use, but also regarding the opioid epidemic sweeping the nation. Here are just a few distressing facts and figures:
While opioids have become the immediate focus of attention Utah drug rehabilitation programs, it’s important to remember that other substances, such as cocaine, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, and alcohol, remain dangerous threats to state residents. And the recent appearance of synthetic compound “designer drugs” is becoming a major concern of governmental authorities and medical personnel alike, as well as Utah rehab programs.