About Our Philosophy Treatment Our Facility Programs ADD/ADHD Tract Activities Meet The Staff Detox Costs Legal Issues Questionnaire Alumni Drug Facts Home Alternatives In Treatment, Inc. 7601 N. Federal Hwy. Suite 100B Boca Raton, FL 33487 (800) 622-0866 (561) 998-0866		Boca Agency offers treatment alternative Boca Raton News March 29, 1999 By John Harris Business Writer Ten years ago if you were referred for drug or alcohol abuse treatment, there was little choice. Treatment was expensive, institutional and inflexible. While working in an employee assistance program, Jacob Frydman noted that and decided to do something about it. "I felt there should be a less institutionalized and more humane way to do it", he said. Alternatives in Treatment Inc., a Boca Raton alcohol and drug abuse treatment center with multi-faceted approach to treatment, is the outcome. Frydman is the center's executive director. The Center offers a wide array of programs to fit the individual needs of those with addiction problems. They include: In hospital detox Partial hospitalization Extended residential primary care Short term residential primary care Ambulatory detox Structured outpatient care Day and evening programs Relapse programs Family programs After care "The level of care and length of stay are determined by the needs of the patient," said Maureen Esposito, the center's clinical director. "This individualized treatment planning has been shown to improve the treatment outcome." Frydman said the cost of substance abuse in the workplace is in the billions of dollars. "It's estimated that each person abusing a substance affects a minimum of five other people," said Frydman. "Co-workers are covering for some of the abusers, and that cuts down on the amount of work they can do. Absenteeism is another result. The amount of productivity loss is tremendous." Frydman said the loss is not just in production either. "Substance abuse boosts the cost of health care too. Often it is the underlying cause in heart, kidney and liver problems. And of course many trauma cases are a result of substance abuse. Frydman said substance abuse affects people across the board. "It's not just blue-collar people", he said. "We've treated top executives who were out on the street buying crack to feed their habit." Alternatives in Treatment gets many of its clients through referrals from work-place employee assistance programs. Friends or family refers others. Still others, some of who learned of Alternatives via its web site, come in on their own. Frydman said friends usually think that all they need to do for a substance abuser is to point out: "Hey, you're hurting yourself so just quit," echoing the words of first lady Nancy Reagan's "Just say no" advice. "But its not that easy," said Frydman. "If it were, people would just quit. Unfortunately, it seldom works that way." "If a person thinks they have a problem, they can come in for a no-cost assessment," said Esposito. The center is participating in National Alcohol Screening Day on Thursday, April 8, and invites people to come in that day for a free, confidential self-assessment survey and consultation with health professionals. Alternatives is a provider to many managed care (HMO) companies, insurance companies and employee assistance program.
7601 N. Federal Hwy. Suite 100B, Boca Raton, FL 33487 | (800) 622-0866 | (561) 998-0866 | info@drughelp.com