Recovery Centers of America Reviews

My husband told me that it was his fifth day and he would call his kids. Which they needed. No call, no call from staff. The counselor he was on the phone with told me when I said I was clueless of what to do that I just wanted him to recover for his kids. As I had learned some disturbing things when he left. Another addiction. I was told someone would call me. Nothing. I’m paying this bill, I’m his wife, he didn’t even have to talk to me but his kids stayed up late in hopes to talk to their Dad. I was the one who pushed this as my stepkids deserved stability more than just me, even though I love them like my own. I informed the Greenville location of what the kids had been through. Hell, I didn’t know what to say to him when and if he called because I didn’t know if revealing what I found would help or hinder his recovery.

Another reason I wanted to talk to the counselor. Zero communication. Now I have kids who are so worried about their father and expected to talk to him and I have zero information. Sean has given them permission to speak to me. I get that loved ones can be crazy when this happens. But nothing seems to be well communicated other than admissions and financial. After that, they seem done even telling the family what to expect. I have zero information. No one will call me back. If he shouldn’t speak to me that’s fine: I said that to him with the counselor on the phone because again I didn’t know how to handle it and had zero advice. I didn’t want to hurt his recovery with saying something wrong about what I had found out. So I told him to contact his daughter. His counselor heard this all and said, "Would you like me to call you later today?" Again nothing.

We are supposed to be his support center when he returns. I’ve got two children who have been through absolute hell that are worried about their father and one would think that would be important. I understand if they didn’t feel he was ready. But contact the family for the kids' sake so they don’t wait up late thinking they might hear from their Dad. You can’t get through to anyone but admissions it seems. They are definitely organized with that. I do not know if this will help my husband.

I’m praying for our kids even if our marriage doesn’t survive all of this. They need their Dad the hero back. But I won’t say I’m not concerned about the quality of care being that none of this makes sense, from mailing a razor that I provided that was there, to not returning my calls to add money for him if he wanted to buy anything. To being told the counselor would call me twice before when I informed him that with what I learned I didn’t know how to handle communication. Then they said they would call me while my husband called for that razor already there.

I sent his bipolar meds too and I have no idea if he was given them. Family support is webinars? Nothing written to help answer what seems to be bad communication with family with this company. So I’ve got crushed kids who have been hurt enough. I have zero idea of what to expect, what treatment plan is like, nada. No help to know how to communicate to him knowing an even bigger betrayal without knowing if I should just avoid that for now. I was exhausted before this.

I’ve been carrying the weight even though I need surgery and am having a brain MRI before he gets out for MS. I’ve gone to the groups of addicts. But that hasn’t helped me with any answers to what to do while he’s in rehab. Jail is easier to get answers when you call them. I hope the treatment is better than we’ve been treated, because it’s a copay that for him being out of work and I’m not able to work to pull off. But I knew it had to be done for our family. I get keeping the spouse away or in the dark somewhat if they feel that won’t help. But to not communicate to me that he wouldn’t be able to call the kids or call me back about anything is to say beyond frustrating.

I hope he’s okay. I hope he’s getting great treatment. But I wouldn’t know. I did the work and put my credit on the line to get him there I’m authorized by him. But it seems the family isn’t important at all. Even to tell me how to handle when he does call. I don’t see how that will help us once he gets back. Since I'm his major support. I’ve had to watch youtube videos instead. They’ve given me great tips. But none tell you what to do about finding out something major after they enter rehab. No matter how it ends with us, his kids deserve more. I don’t want to set him back. I guess I’ll just be in the dark until God knows when. I told the kids that I’m sorry but with how this was going we should just expect to not hear from their father and maybe we would eventually. I’ve read some great reviews on here and some awful ones.

This is my husband's big chance for his kids who he truly loves. I hope his care is far better than how I’ve been treated. I guess I figure out on my in through YouTube how to handle him when he gets home. I guess I’m just going to act like I don’t know about seemingly a ** and possible infidelity. The stealing of money from me and my expensive possessions was plenty. Then a betrayal even worse. I just needed someone to tell me what to say and what not to say. A five-minute phone call. I pray I didn’t make a mistake sending him here. Because it’s me on the line for this 4,000 dollars. Not him. Here’s hoping he’s getting the help he needs.

As someone who has been seriously active in the recovery community, I am appalled with this. Not only was this treatment NOT worth $5,000 I have already paid off my agreed amount! Their IOP is NOT medical treatment, no matter how much they would like to charge for that. Most times, I was alone in the room since everyone else was on Zoom. Come on now, I have gotten more out of an AA meeting than I did through the entire RCA IOP… The billing department's recommendation? “We will send you an itemized bill to help you understand.” Help me understand what? I specifically made my concerns over price on day 0, before signing anything, to ensure this did not happen! Recovery Centers of America is predatory, unethical, and inhumane. Seek treatment, but do it elsewhere.

The intake process was better and I wish I remembered the gentleman who did it (James maybe?) because he really helped settle my nerves. I was pretty stunned to learn next that they would be removing ALL of my clothing (underwear, bra, socks, and flip flops included), and that I would be forced to wear flannel pants, a t shirt and socks for THREE DAYS while they “ensured my belongings didn’t have bed bugs.” I had no underwear or shoes for 3 days. I was also under the impression I would be seeing a licensed clinician once per week but only saw mine twice in the 29 days I was there.

But what was most appalling was the medication error that occurred—the nurses were giving me 5 times the amount of one of my medications that was prescribed. I brought this up to staff members (most of whom blew me off, except for one of the top nurses who was wonderful and assured me they would order/pay for more meds that I now needed since they overdosed me and ran out so quickly). I even attempted to talk to the CEO Marcus, who repeatedly told us about his “open door policy” but never had time to meet.

The Director of Nursing, Kent **, did meet with me (after many days of attempts), was dismissive of me and how serious of a problem this was, and then proceeded to blame me for not having an impromptu meeting with him when he was in the building I stayed in for a meeting. When I was finally at my wit's end, I asked to have my phone to call my attorney and was told no. I had to push back HARD to get it. And my attorney did have to speak with RCA’s legal counsel.

Possibly the worst part is that after I got home, I began receiving bills for the medication (that was only necessary due to their medication error—I had provided enough for a 30 day stay, and they had gone through that AND more). I left messages at the front desk, as well as 3 messages on Kent Alford’s direct voicemail, asking that he just pay the pharmacy for this bill. He never even returned my call (nor did the front desk), much less take care of the meds they promised to cover.

Did they take accountability and try to do anything to help fix this? (Even just validate my feelings?) No. But did they acknowledge how big of a mess up it was to their staff? They sure did. They held an inservice for all nurses, specifically about my medication overdosing incidents, and how to prevent it in the future. I only know this because the night nurses attended it during their shift…10 feet away from all of the residents. There are a few staff there who very clearly want to help (Leslie is a gem) but I’m sad to say most of the staff care more about liability than patient care or outcomes.

As of this writing I have contacted them on several occasions to resolve the matter and obtain a refund. Calls are either not returned or when they are staff tell me how the company is reassessing and reorganizing departments. Frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is working with a reputable company. It has been 6 1/2 months and I’m still waiting. If I had to chose a treatment center in the future I would not chose Recovery Centers of America.

Original Review: Dec. 4, 2020

Unfortunately my son is a frequent flyer at RCA. In these times of Covid, mental health and substance abuse issues are out of control. My son had a wonderful experience at Bracebridge in September. He just relapsed again, and wanted to go to Bracebridge again for treatment. He agreed to call for help, after a 5 day drug binge. He and I called late in the evening and set up a pick up time for the next day. That is always a big help to the addicts and the family, that RCA will pick you up.

Well, pick up was supposed to be at 3:30 pm. They called my son in the morning to let him know that they had a busy day, and they would get him at 8:30. To him, that meant more time to get and do more drugs. At 8:30 they called to say it would be 9:30-9:45. When they arrived, my son was severely intoxicated. He walked out to the vehicle and the driver and I could see he was pretty messed up. I understand that they didn't have enough drivers that day. I should have driven him myself. My son was so messed up that the driver thought it best he go to the ER at Union Hospital. And that's fine, except no one notified me. I am the emergency contact. That was verbally verified (again) on the phone when we made arrangements for my son to get treatment. My son has been to various RCA campuses this year, at least 6 times. I am always the emergency contact.

I called Bracebridge the next morning to make sure he got there ok. They said someone would call me back. No one did. My son calls me at 12:30 pm and tells me he's in the hospital. He doesn't know what hospital and he's getting discharged. He is still not thinking clearly and sounds groggy on the phone. I ask him why RCA isn't coming to get him. He says he doesn't know what's going on. Of course he is mentally incoherent and wants me to pick him up at a pizza place that he found on his phone. I found him down the street from the hospital at a sandwich shop. We got in the car and called Bracebridge. I wanted to let them know that I had him and I was told that he had to go back to the hospital ER. They needed his discharge papers to admit him. I am a complete mess over what my son's been putting me through for the last 5 days.

We go back to the ER and a nurse comes out to let me know that they faxed the paperwork to Bracebridge 3 times, they didn't get the first 2 faxes. The nurse who took care of my son comes by to let me know that she verified Bracebridge got the 3rd fax and they said it would take 45 minutes to review the paperwork. His nurse also told me that she spoke to the nurse at Bracebridge after she sent it the first time (around 12:30 pm) and the Bracebridge nurse acknowledged receipt at that time, saying it would be a 45 minute review. The nurse at Union hospital was confused as to why Bracebridge said they never received the first 2 faxes, when in fact, the first fax was verbally acknowledged on the phone by the Bracebridge nurse.

Since Bracebridge is about 40 minute drive from the hospital, I decided to drive there. If they weren't going to admit my son, I still had to pick up his belongings. We get there and the nurse won't admit him as he is falling asleep, etc. I ask what should I do. I'm told to take him back to the hospital. I get really upset, it's 4:30, getting dark, my cell phone is dying and I don't know how to get out of there. The nurse doesn't want to deal with the situation and hands me off to someone who knows where his belongings are located on the property. The medical staff handled me and the situation so unprofessional. No compassion. No understanding. The young ladies in the barn where I picked up his belongings, were very understanding and helpful. We found our way out of there. It is so remote and dark. Thank God my phone had enough power to get me to where I could navigate myself.

We stopped to eat and called RCA Devon. They cleared my son to be admitted. They explained to me that Bracebridge is too far from a hospital and are reluctant to admit someone who looks so intoxicated. Why the hell couldn't they tell me that? Or call Devon for me to admit him there? So cold and cruel. Why didn't anyone let me know he went to the ER? SO UNPROFESSIONAL!