Community Partners

Project RECOVER is collaborating with two inpatient detox facilities in order to link peer recovery coaches with recoverees that are most at need of their services. These two detox sites are the Dr. Lucy Sewall Center for Acute Treatment Services at Dimock Community Health Center (DCHC) and Boston Treatment Center.

Dimock Community Health Center

DCHC operates on a nine-acre campus in Roxbury serving communities in Boston and across the state, providing comprehensive, culturally-competent health, behavioral health, and child and family services. DCHC’s detoxification services have served the community for more than 40 years and admit more than 3,000 clients annually. Of those served by DCHC’s detox services, 18.29% are Black, 23.47% are Hispanic, 52.95% are White, 69% have their care covered by MassHealth (Medicaid) and another 21% have no health insurance coverage. Acute Treatment Services (ATS) is a 30-bed medically monitored inpatient detox unit for alcohol and opioid use disorders located on DCHC’s main campus. The ATS Medical Director, nurse manager, clinical supervisor, nursing staff, recovery specialist and case together as a comprehensive, patient-centered team to assure that each individual receives a safe, medication-assisted withdrawal within a respectful environment. Medication-assisted withdrawal is offered under the supervision of the medical director and experienced nursing staff. During clients’ stays of up to 14 days, all aspects of clinical treatment are considered and a treatment plan is developed to assess next steps. Clients are then referred to a less intensive level of care for further treatment. Program protocols include methadone, buprenorphine, clonidine, and benzodiazepine detoxification.
Like BTC, DCHC serves a disproportionately high number of minorities, including black or African American patients (18.9% compared to 6.4% statewide) and Hispanic patients (21.5% compared to 15.4% statewide).63 The majority of patients seeking treatment at BTC are homeless (68.0%); most are unemployed (75.3%); and most have had five or more prior detoxification admissions (64.2%).

In 2016, DCHC accommodated 2,747 admissions, 70.9% of which were for heroin use.

Boston Treatment Center

A program of Lahey Health Behavioral Services, BTC is a 50-bed inpatient detoxification and treatment service, located adjacent to the Boston Medical Center Campus, which treats and cares for men and women needing to be medically detoxified from alcohol, opiates and benzodiazepines. BTC’s treatment philosophy includes treating individuals with dignity and respect, and encouraging their ability to grow when given support, education and direction. BTC understands substance use, dependence, or addiction may be influenced by many factors, including genetic, biological, psychological and social reasons. BTC is also cognizant that substance use needs to be addressed in treatment in order to make a lasting impact on patient health.
BTC is licensed to treat 50 men and women, with an average daily census of 48, and the program admits more than 4,500 individuals for treatment annually. Individuals typically stay from four to six days at BTC and services include: 1) safe medical detoxification; 2) group counseling; 3) support from community of peers who are in recovery from addiction; 4) continuing care planning; and 5) referral to ongoing care and/or 12-step programs. BTC serves clients from all over Massachusetts, with the majority of clients coming from Boston and the immediate surrounding communities. Almost 40% of the individuals served by BTC do not have permanent housing and the program employs bilingual and multicultural staff to best meet the needs of the populations it serves.
Compared to the demographic profile for patients seeking detoxification services across Massachusetts, BTC serves a disproportionately high number of minorities, including black or African American patients, who account for 17.3% of admissions compared to 6.4% statewide, and Hispanic patients, who account for 20.9% of admissions compared to 15.4% statewide.62 More than three-fourths of patients seeking treatment at BTC are homeless (77.5%); most are unemployed (79.3%); and most have had five or more prior detoxification admissions (72.4%).

In 2016, BTC accommodated 4,635 admissions, 66.4% of which were for heroin use.