Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders

Addictions to substances — alcohol, cocaine, prescription opioids, heroin, Benzodiazepines, marijuana, or other psychoactive drugs — are different for different people. And those suffering from addictions benefit by treatment that is tailored to them, and their unique experiences. Silver Hill Hospital has significant expertise in this realm and treats all of our patients individually, compassionately, and with the best possible treatments to effectively address their challenges. 

Program Overview
The core levels of Silver Hill’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program are Inpatient, Transitional Living Program (DBT-S), and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP-S). At the center of all SUD programs is Dialectical Behavior Therapy for people with Substance Use Disorder (DBT-S), an evidence-based treatment that focuses on the 4 core modules of DBT: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Distress Tolerance, and Emotion Regulation.

In addition to DBT-S Therapy, patients benefit from a range of supportive therapies and activities.

Our approach to your addiction treatment will be supplemented as needed with medication-assisted therapies. These therapies have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of relapse, when clinically indicated in the treatment of a co-occurring psychiatric disorder.

The foundation of our treatment is evidence-based therapies, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy for People with Substance Use Disorders (DBT-S). They will equip you with the skills you need to regulate your emotions, control self-defeating thoughts, urges, and behaviors, and improve interpersonal relationships.

Your treatment team will be guided by a leading psychiatrist. After medical detoxification, the team will define a course of treatment specifically for you that includes behavioral, emotional and pharmacologic therapies. In addition, we will simultaneously treat the co-occurring psychiatric conditions that often accompany addiction. This combined approach makes Silver Hill a leader in substance use treatment in greater Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and beyond.

Levels of Care
Inpatient – a first, stabilizing step in the recovery from mental illness or addiction
Many patients begin treatment in our inpatient level of care. Patients may be admitted for detoxification from alcohol, prescription medication or other substances. Simultaneous treatment for co-occurring psychiatric disorders is also provided as needed.

The goals of inpatient treatment are diagnostic assessment, safe detoxification, symptom reduction and stabilization.

Inpatient treatment includes the following:

• Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation – Based on information gathered from you, your family and your community clinicians, we develop a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Medical Detoxification – We initiate medically supervised treatment designed to safely eliminate intoxicating or addictive substances from your body.
• Pharmacologic Therapies – We use medications in the treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders as necessary.
• Individual and Group Counseling – We provide counseling both one-to-one and in groups.
• Structured Treatment Environment – You will live in a supportive environment in which you can constructively apply the skills you are learning to achieve your treatment goals.
• Aftercare Planning – We will work with you, your family and community clinicians to develop a safe, healthy and meaningful plan for life after discharge.

Our Main House Inpatient Service takes place at the Patricia Regnemer Main House building. You will be assigned according to your diagnosis and the type of inpatient treatment that is best suited to assist in your recovery.

The average length of stay varies by diagnosis, ranging from 5 to 12 days. Inpatient units are locked for your safety and no personal computers or cellphones are permitted

Your day will be structured around a 14-hour schedule, which includes:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Group therapy
• Goal planning
• Twelve Step Meetings
• Recovery discussion meetings
• Workbook/Journaling
• Wellness therapy and recreational activities
• Visiting hours (family members twelve years of age and older)

You will meet individually with your psychiatrist and social worker every day.

Visit Inpatient FAQs

Transitional Living – for continued therapeutic recovery
When you enter this all genders program at Scavetta House, you receive a thorough psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan, including pharmacologic treatment as needed. You reside on campus in a safe and comfortable setting. The length of stay for this phase of treatment is 4 weeks, but you may opt to extend your treatment.

The Goal of the Transitional Living Program is to help you develop an understanding of your psychological and addictive conditions and learn new behavioral skills to manage your recovery process.

The Transitional Living Program continues the progression of treatment protocols from your inpatient stay, including:

• An Updated Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation
• Pharmacologic Therapies
• Individual And Group Counseling
• Residential Care For A Structured Treatment Environment
• Aftercare Planning

Your 14-hour daily schedule will vary by day and week, but typically include:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Group Therapy
• Twelve Step Meetings
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training
• Recovery Discussion Meetings
• Yoga or Mindfulness Meditation
• Fitness and Recreational Activities
• Visiting Hours

Visit Transitional Living FAQs

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) – intensive group treatment at the Silver Hill Hospital campus. Participants reside at home while taking part in the IOP program.  

After the recovery begun in Transitional Living, you continue your progress while living at home through our Dual Diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program. This 8-week program is run by knowledgeable, licensed practitioners on the Silver Hill campus. It covers Relapse Prevention, Family Disease and Relapse Warning Signs, Understanding Emotions, and Self-Esteem. 

You then begin attending dual diagnosis group therapy sessions led by our licensed clinicians. These groups provide education about addiction and teach effective coping skills. Also, you receive individual therapy, family therapy and psychiatric medication management, as is clinically appropriate

Visit Intensive Outpatient FAQs

While you may be seeking treatment for addiction, we find that there is often a psychiatric disorder that occurs along with it such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.

If you are diagnosed with a co-occurring psychiatric disorder in addition to addiction, our staff has the skill, sensitivity and training to treat your dual conditions together rather than one at a time. This simultaneous treatment is the most effective approach for dual conditions, and often the least available at other institutions.

Take a look at our campus and treatment houses.

As part of the Program, Silver Hill also offers:

• Withdrawal Management, overseeing withdrawal from substances, including opioids and pain medications, through maintenance therapies to ensure a safe and stable withdrawal;
• Family Support Services and Patient-Supported Communications including a Family Education Series and ongoing (patient-approved) communication to strengthen a patient’s network; 
• Peer Support and 24/7 Team Support and a Full Daily Schedule including: extensive DBT Skills training; goal planning, complementary and additional therapies (Yoga, Experiential Therapies; Meditation, Art Therapy, Process Group), Step/Smart Recovery Meetings; physical activity/open gym; guest speakers, house chores; plus meetings and extensive interaction with the program team.

We recognize that the entire family can be affected when one member has an addiction and co-occurring psychiatric disorder. So we encourage family members to meet with the patient’s social worker, psychiatrist or other members of the treatment team throughout the recovery process.

We also host a weekly Family Forum. Visit the Events Calendar for meeting dates and times. This broad, supportive, educational program helps family members deal with the effects of their loved one’s mental illness or addiction on their lives, and provides a support system for patients and their families.

In addition, our 4-day Addiction & Co-Occurring Disorders Family Program offers families the opportunity to learn about the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of addictions and mood disorders. Visit the Events Calendar for meeting dates and times. The program includes education about relapse prevention and aftercare strategies, communication strategies, conflict resolution and the opportunity to meet with other families in similar situations. Information on the neurobiology of addiction and mood disorders along with medication education are also a part of this program.