Key points
- For people who need both, treatment happens in two steps: medically supervised detox, then residential treatment. Oak Grove Recovery in Westerville provides both, in one place, for adults 18 and older.
- The call does most of the work. Admissions answers 24/7 at 614.324.8137, talks through where you are right now, and checks coverage on the call. Transportation is arranged 24/7.
- Detox is a medical step, not treatment by itself. Alcohol withdrawal in particular can be dangerous without supervision. Residential treatment is where the work of recovery happens.
- Families can take part once the patient signs a release of information: family psychoeducation in person before visitation, and family therapy in person or virtually.
- Oak Grove Recovery accepts Ohio Medicaid, commercial insurance, and private pay. Coverage depends on your specific plan, and the coverage check happens on the call.
In this article
- Why the first step feels bigger than it is
- Step one: the call
- Step two: medical detox
- Step three: residential treatment
- Medication, when it is appropriate
- What families can expect
- Paying for care in Ohio
- Safety while you decide
- Questions to ask when you call
- Frequently asked questions
- Start with one call
- Sources
Why the first step feels bigger than it is
Most people in the Columbus area who are thinking about treatment have the same two questions: what actually happens, and how do I start? The not knowing is often what keeps people from calling. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is direct about the cost of that delay: “Potential patients can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or readily accessible” [1].
This article walks through what treatment at Oak Grove Recovery in Westerville looks like, from the call to residential care, so that nothing on the day is a surprise.
Step one: the call
Everything starts with one call. Admissions answers 24/7 at 614.324.8137. On that call, the team asks about your substance use, your health, and where you are right now. You do not need to have anything figured out before you call, and you can call for someone else.
The call covers two things: the first is whether you need medically supervised withdrawal management first, or whether residential treatment is the right starting point today. The second is coverage. Oak Grove Recovery accepts Ohio Medicaid, commercial insurance, and private pay. Have your member ID ready and admissions will verify your benefits before admission. The coverage check happens on the call. Transportation is arranged 24/7, so getting here is part of the plan, not a problem you solve alone.
Step two: medical detox
For many people, the first days of treatment are withdrawal management. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes detoxification as “a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal” [2], with three parts: evaluation, stabilization, and “fostering the patient’s entry into treatment” [3].
For alcohol, this is a medical step. MedlinePlus notes that alcohol withdrawal symptoms “tend to occur within 8 hours after the last drink, but can occur days later,” that “people with moderate-to-severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms may need to be treated at a hospital or other facility,” and that “death is possible, especially if delirium tremens occurs” [4]. For opioids, the period after withdrawal carries its own risk, which the safety section below explains.
At Oak Grove Recovery, medical detox is provided on site, with nursing support available 24/7. Qualified medical providers evaluate medication needs on arrival, including the medications a person already takes. You do not go somewhere else for detox and then come back. The same team sees you through both steps.
SAMHSA is also clear about what detox is not: “Detoxification alone is not sufficient in the treatment and rehabilitation of substance use disorders” [2]. NIDA says the same thing: “Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage” of treatment [1]. Detox gets you to the starting line.
Step three: residential treatment
Residential treatment means living at the program while you receive care. At Oak Grove Recovery, when residential treatment is the next step, it happens in the same place, for adults 18 and older. The program is co-ed, couples are welcome, pregnant women are prioritized for evaluation, and veterans are served.
Everyone entering treatment goes through an assessment. SAMHSA’s booklet for families explains: “Everyone entering treatment receives a clinical assessment,” because “a complete assessment of an individual is needed to help treatment professionals offer the type of treatment that best suits him or her” [5]. After the assessment, a treatment plan is built with you. The booklet describes it simply: “This plan lists problems, treatment goals, and ways to meet those goals” [5].
Care at Oak Grove Recovery is built around individual and group therapy using approaches such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care, with both 12-step and SMART Recovery meetings available. Co-occurring mental health conditions are treated alongside substance use, by one team. NIDA recommends that “patients presenting with one condition should be assessed for the other(s)” because the two so often occur together [1], so expect questions about your mood, sleep, and history on arrival.
Discharge planning starts when you arrive, as part of the treatment plan, and before discharge, the team identifies the next level of care and makes referrals. Length of stay is determined by medical necessity, not a set number of days. NIDA’s guide notes that “remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical,” and that “the appropriate duration for an individual depends on the type and degree of the patient’s problems and needs” [1].
Oak Grove Recovery is licensed by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and has 120 beds.
Medication, when it is appropriate
NIDA’s guide states that “medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling” [1]. At Oak Grove Recovery, qualified medical providers evaluate medication for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine (Subutex), Suboxone, and naltrexone (Vivitrol), as part of an individualized plan. Whether medication is part of your plan is a clinical decision made with you, not a requirement and not a shortcut.
What families can expect
Families can take part once the patient signs a release of information. Two things are built into the program: family psychoeducation, held in person right before visitation, and family therapy, in person or virtually. NIDA’s guide notes that “involvement of a family member or significant other in an individual’s treatment program can strengthen and extend treatment benefits” [1].
Calls with people you’ve authorized are scheduled around treatment activities, and visits are scheduled through the patient’s counselor. Every visitor must be approved and have a valid Release of Information authorization on file. If you have a concern while your loved one is in care, call admissions at 614.324.8137 and ask how to reach the care team.
Paying for care in Ohio
Oak Grove Recovery accepts Ohio Medicaid, commercial insurance, and private pay. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so have your member ID ready when you call. Admissions will verify your benefits before admission, and the coverage check happens on the call.
Safety while you decide
Two safety facts belong here, because the time between deciding and arriving is a risky window.
The first is alcohol. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly can be dangerous. MedlinePlus advises: “Contact your provider right away or go the emergency room if you think you might be in alcohol withdrawal” [4]. If you drink heavily every day, talk with admissions or a medical provider before you stop, and let the medical team manage withdrawal.
The second is tolerance. After any period without opioids, the body’s tolerance drops. SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit lists “using drugs after a recent period of abstinence, which may decrease previous tolerance levels” as an overdose risk factor [6]. The toolkit’s signs of an opioid overdose include “unconsciousness or inability to awaken,” “slow or shallow breathing or difficulty breathing such as choking sounds,” and “fingernails or lips turning blue/purple.” Naloxone does “not cause harm if given to a person who is not experiencing opioid overdose” [6]. If you think someone is overdosing, give naloxone if you have it and then call 911. Stay with the person until emergency help arrives [7].
If someone is having thoughts of suicide, that is an emergency. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by call or text, and 911 is the right call if someone is in immediate danger [8].
Questions to ask when you call
- Do I need medical detox first, and is it provided in the same place as residential treatment?
- Is nursing available 24 hours a day during detox?
- Who evaluates medication needs, and can medication for opioid use disorder be part of my plan?
- Is co-occurring mental health care part of treatment?
- How are families included, and when?
- When does discharge planning start, and what does aftercare look like?
- Is Ohio Medicaid accepted, and is the coverage check done before admission?
- Is transportation arranged, and can I be admitted today?
Start with one call
If you or someone you love is ready to look at treatment in the Columbus area, call admissions at 614.324.8137. Admissions answers 24/7. The team will talk through where you are right now, whether detox comes first, how coverage works, and how to get here.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/samhsa_detoxification_and_substance_abuse_treatment.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. TIP 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment, Chapter 1 (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64119/
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Alcohol withdrawal. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000764.htm
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families (SMA14-4126). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma14-4126.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (PEP23-03-00-001). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/overdose-prevention-response-kit-pep23-03-00-001.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 Things to Know About Naloxone. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/reversing-overdose/about-naloxone.html
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
