Pathways

Set on a serene, wooded eight acres in Annapolis, MD, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program (Pathways) offers clients a short term 12-step-based treatment in close association with Anne Arundel Medical Center. With the program lasting for only 21 days, the center can place more emphasis on treatment.

Accommodations

Residents undergoing treatment at Pathways stay in a free-standing, gender-specific dorm-style accommodation. This is also where most of the action takes place. Even though access to the hospital is very convenient, Pathways prefers to keep most activities on-site. Pathway offers 32 beds at a time, and all rooms have basic furnishing and twin beds. Housekeeping does the necessary chores.

Food

Residents are served three hot meals a day, prepared on-site by a chef. Meals are served in the dining hall. Residents can enjoy outside food on select evenings.

Treatment Program

While Pathways does offer on-site medical detoxification, residents who are at risk of seizures can be shifted to Anne Arundel Medical Center, two miles away. Detoxification lasts anywhere from five to seven days. Residents are required to take part in most of the daily activities, given the short duration of the program.

Treatment offered at Pathways is based on the 12-step model with daily individual and group counseling sessions. Residents can attend up to 10 12-step meetings in a week, most of which are held on the campus. While Pathways do allow attending off-site meetings, transporting the large of residents to these makes it a tricky proposition. Given the circumstances, residents will attend only a session or two during their stay.

Pathways encourage its residents to exercise during their stay here, but the only facilities available for it are volleyball and basketball courts. One can also walk on the vast campus as part of the exercise regimen. Excursions are rare, and the residents are expected to spend the almost entire duration of their stay on the campus, the only exception being a rare off-site 12-step meeting.

To ensure that the residents of the program are immersed in the program all the time, Pathways follow a series of rules, lockdown-style. One phone call a week and no visitation at all save for a single hour-long visit for a family session during the stay. One can gauge how seriously this policy is adhered to by the fact that even on Christmas, only half-hour family visitation is allowed.

Staff

The treatment team at Pathways includes a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, clinical team leader, nursing coordinator, family therapist, mental health clinician, intake counselor, primary case manager, and a certified teacher. Their team also includes registered nurses who are responsible for the daily care of residents.

In Addition

As part of the so-called “adventure therapy,” Pathways offers an on-site ROPES course with both high and low-climbing activities (20 in number). This course includes a 12-foot long climbing wall and a 45-foot long climbing tower. These are designed to incorporate an element of physical activity in the recovery program; family members are also encouraged to take part in it.

However, it should be noted that other private businesses can also use the ROPES course, which can act as a detriment to those who want an isolated, retreat-style fun activity.

Cost

Approximately $12,500-$17,300 (21 days).