CANAAN, CT— Mountainside treatment center is proud to celebrate 25 years of providing innovative and holistic care in helping individuals heal from alcohol and drug abuse. Since its inception in 1998, the nationally acclaimed behavioral health network has positively reshaped the lives of over 20,000 individuals and, in turn, uplifted communities impacted by substance use disorder.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1999, a year after the treatment center first opened its doors, to 2021, drug overdose deaths have quadrupled. While cocaine and prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone led as the primary causes of overdose deaths in the early 2000s, heroin-related deaths started to rise in 2011. By 2016, however, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the US.
“This alarming statistic is a reminder that our fight is ongoing,” said Chief Executive Officer Andre Basso. “While the drug crisis in the US is constantly shifting, Mountainside has always been at the forefront of anticipating client needs. We invest in research and program development to ensure client health is addressed in its totality—mentally, physically, and spiritually—both while in our care and after leaving treatment.”
When Mountainside was founded, the drug rehabilitation industry primarily offered group and individual counseling paired with Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship. The treatment center went beyond the norm to complement counseling with evidence-based wellness practices such as yoga and adventure therapy to provide clients with actionable ways to manage anxiety and stress.
Mountainside’s commitment to innovation has been reflected in its tremendous expansion in the last quarter century. It has grown its offerings from clinical and wellness services to include family wellness, continuing care, alumni support, medical and psychiatric services, and medication-assisted treatment. And to enable greater access to quality care, Mountainside grew from a single residential facility to a treatment network with a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care across multiple locations in the Northeast.
New programs and services have not been limited to clients but have extended to families impacted by addiction as well. Mountainside has placed equal emphasis on supporting client families in their own parallel recovery journeys. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person educational workshops went virtual, and a range of free weekly family support groups was instituted.
Mountainside is proud to be recognized by the State of Connecticut as a valued community member in helping to fight substance abuse throughout the years as well as the current opioid crisis. It has earned an array of awards and recognition including being one of only seven addiction treatment centers in the United States to hold dual accreditation from CARF International and The Joint Commission as well as a 3.7 ASAM certification.
This year, to celebrate its milestone anniversary, Mountainside will host a series of free community events in each of its six locations across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey to educate individuals on practices for healthier, more mindful living. Additionally, the treatment center will showcase inspirational stories of recovery spotlighting individuals from all walks of life. “Although much has changed in the last 25 years, our mission to help individuals heal from the disease of addiction has always remained the same. We are very grateful for the clients that have allowed us to be a part of their recovery journeys and we are committed to raising awareness that treatment can and does transform lives,” said Basso.
For information on Mountainside’s community events, visit: https://www.mountainside.com/anniversary/
