UPMC Western Behavioral Health of the Alleghenies Adult Center for Exceptional Learning (ACEL)

About UPMC Western Behavioral Health of the Alleghenies Adult Center for Exceptional Learning (ACEL) – Altoona

If you’re an adult in Altoona, Pennsylvania who’s struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, you can contact the Behavioral Health Access Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. They help people who want to start their recovery but aren’t in an immediate crisis. When you call, they’ll connect you to local providers that can offer the help you need. Their resources and referrals are free, but you might be able to use private insurance to pay for the services they schedule.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When you call, be prepared to share about the problem you’re experiencing, how long the addiction has been going on, and other important details. They’ll help you find facilities that offer the level of care you need. This might be inpatient treatment, outpatient counseling sessions, or programs that include both. They can also help you find groups that provide other services, such as case management, dual diagnosis support, mental health treatment, and senior assessments.

Something I like about this facility is that they won’t help you take the first step in recovery just to leave you. Once they link you up with a provider, they’ll help you make that appointment and will follow up to make sure you’re getting the help you need.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

12-Step

12 step programs such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous are support group style programs for individuals who are experiencing alcohol or substance use disorder. At Evoke they use a holistic model of addiction care that includes using 12 step programs. These programs are an integral part of most relapse prevention plans and provide continued support and accountability that support sobriety.

Aftercare Support

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Intensive Outpatient

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.

Intervention Services

Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

Medically Assisted Detox

Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.

Outpatient

Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.

Partial Hospitalization Program

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term form of intensive rehab, usually for those with acute symptoms that are hard to manage but don’t require 24-hour care. PHPs have structured programming (i.e. individual and/or group therapy), and usually meet 3-5 days a week for around 6 hours (i.e. 9am-3m). Some PHPs are residential (patients sleep on site) and some are not, so patients sleep at home. PHPs can last from 1-6 months, and some offer transportation and meals.

Sober Living Homes

Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.

Treatments

Alcoholism Drug Addiction Dual Diagnosis Mental Health and Substance Abuse Opioid Addiction

Programs

Adult Program

Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.

LGBTQ Program

Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.

Military Program

Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Young Adult Program

Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Staff

Leslie C. Davis

President & Chief Executive Officer, UPMC

Alison V. Beam

Senior Vice President, UPMC & Chief Government Affairs Officer

Fred M. Hargett

Executive Vice President, UPMC & Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Oscar Marroquin, MD

Executive Vice President, UPMC & President, UPMC Physician Services Division

Dr. Joel Nelson, MD

Executive Vice President, UPMC & Chief Clinical Officer

Dr. Don Yealy, MD

Chief Medical Officer, UPMC & Senior Vice President, UPMC Health Services Division

Joel P. Yuhas

Executive Vice President, UPMC & President, UPMC Hospitals, Health Services Division

Dr. Marshall W. Webster, MD

Senior Vice President, UPMC