“Give us 10 days; we’ll give you back your life.”
That is more than a slogan for a new alcohol and drug treatment program that will start in Denton on July 9.
Seattle-based Schick Shadel Hospital will expand its alcohol and drug treatment facilities to a newly built unit inside Mayhill Hospital. The 59-bed unit is designed to replicate all aspects of Schick’s inpatient addiction treatment program.
“Schick Shadel is unique because it is a medical approach to addiction,” said Rick Harding, administrator for North Texas Schick Shadel at Mayhill Hospital. “Using counter-conditioning medical methods, the program achieves taste aversions to addictive substances. By the end of 10 days, cravings will disappear, and the patients enjoy a comfortable abstinence.”
Patients must attend two-day follow-up sessions 30 days and 90 days after completing the program.
“People on the outside do not understand there is a strong distaste for drugs after they complete the program,” said Mary Ellen Stewart, administrator for Schick Shadel in Seattle.
Stewart said she has seen many different types of patients — doctors, lawyers and pilots, anyone who is struggling with some form of addiction.
She said it’s rewarding to see patients who have celebrated 15 to 25 years of sobriety and to help patients from around the world.
Some who complete the program return to help others, she said.
“Once you come here and get acquainted with the program and meet the patients, it just does something for you. You want to stay because we see success,” Stewart said. “It’s discouraging for a nurse to work anywhere where people don’t get well. But not only do we see them get well, they come back years later to thank us because we cared for them when they needed it and because they were going through their addiction treatment.”
The program has a 66 percent success rate for patients after two years.
Stewart said Schick Shadel has treated more than 50,000 patients since the program began in 1935. The Seattle facility admits between 1,000 to 1,200 patients a year, Stewart said.
Since most patients have a difficult time participating in longer programs, the Schick Shadel model is designed so that patients can still work. Inside the Mayhill facility, patients will not be disconnected from their work environment or their families — the facility offers Wi-Fi and patients can bring DVDs to watch in their rooms.
Ascend Health Corp, a New York-based behavioral health care provider, purchased Schick Shadel in 2011.
“Schick Shadel has also treated people who have failed at residential treatments,” said Randy Kaniecki, vice president for business development at Ascend Health. “We support AA and all other programs. I think all of us ultimately have the same goal — sobriety. We all believe that and respect each other’s work.”
Harding said Mayhill Hospital will continue to work closely with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups.
To enroll in the program, call 1-800-CRAVING (272-8464).
KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com.
