Sierra Tucson

I thought I had already written a review?
Oh, well.
… Not that I was a patient there, but I knew someone who WAS recently (July) a patient there, so I decided to check it out, as well as read other reviews and articles about the place.
At first it sounded ideal. But the more I read, the more disturbed I became. First of all, this oasis in the desert is primarily an alcoholism rehab facility. And if I recall correct, substance abuse.
My friend, however, had neither.
Rather he was there for an unrelenting Depression. Now they say they are staffed to handle such a diagnosis. But when I read about 2 patients who were there and who had the same diagnosis and who had committed suicide while there, I began to panic and worry about my friend’s safety.
One of the problems (as I see it) is that «Corporations“are buying what they consider profitable companies (naturally). And what they look at is the bottom line — profits, essentially. Their motives are not based on Altruism, the well-​being of people who need help for chronic medical conditions. And that WILL compromise care.
It’s a retreat for the wealthy, essentially, and apparently has an impressive list of clients. And at $ 50,000 a crack — certainly
out of the reach of the corner junkie — that’s a hefty price tag, even if you’ve got some money.
Thus it’s really hard for me to rate this place, as I was not a patient there, like I said previously, but it did help my friend. And that’s good.
I recommend you read all the news articles written about the place before you drop by.
It may save your life!

I still have nightmares about this place. Don’t go to Sierra Tucson for an eating disorder. Their ED program is not well developed. There are no ED lectures or discussion groups. So for a month I went to AA, co dependency, and 12 step meetings… UM this is a $ 50K program and what the hell am I actually paying for?
The Sierra Tucson staff as a whole is not sensitive to ED triggers and have no idea how to respect ED patients. Mentally, my eating disorder got worse because of this place. Only thing I got out of treatment, is to appreciate the outside world and never go back!
Also, the campus is capital D-​pressing. I’ve never seen so much sand and cactus plants in my life! You go there to heal/​recover and look forward to a better future, when you’re surrounded by the freakin’ desert! Maybe it’s just me, but that’s the opposite of a therapeutic enviornment.
I have friends who went to Sierra Tucson for other diseases (alcoholism, drug addiction, depression.) who found this program very useful. I however did not have a similar experience.
Feel free to contact me through Unilocal if you are considering rehab for an eating disorder and you have questions.

I went Sierra Tucson after getting a glowing review from a family friend and psychologist. Boy was I surprised. This place is nothing like it is depicted on their website and much worse they should not even still hold an accreditation from JAYCO.
I’m a pharmacist and have been for over 40 years. The pharmacy system there is something out of the 1950’s or earlier. The «nurses» dispensing the drugs are from service that hires out such type help– so beware. I had EIGHT (8) major drug dispensing errors on me that I caught and one could have literally been fatal.
The staff there in the super-​structure are employees of ST owned by CRC, a big player in methadone clinics. They bought this center from a family that had built up a highly regarded reputation and appears to be milking that reputation for all its worth.
The clinicians and therapists are in large part contracted in for their services and not employees. They also are upset if you take time to ask about the management team from CRC and many have resigned over the last year or so.
I was there from late February 2011 until the 2^nd week of March when I checked myself out do to all the screw ups on medications and many other issues I could write a book about. The day I checked out 2 other medical related people, both nurses checked themselves out also. THIS PLACE HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
I also would rank them a zero if possible, but am just lucky I am still alive and only out $ 45 000 for a lesson well learned. The negative ratings you read, even though hard to believe, are more than likely true from what I saw there. Some news agency should do an undercover investigation of this place and expose them for what they are.

AVOID SIERRA TUSCON AND INVESTIGATE OTHER CENTERS.
I personally notified the Arizona Board of Pharmacy and the Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners over the things that happened while I was there and am in the process of filing a complaint with JAYCO the accreditation association that approves hospitals for compliance. This is not a healthy place for anyone to be.
Bob R. Pharmacist.

I attended Sierra Tucson in September of 2009. I have to admit that as a person who is alcoholic the last thing I wanted to do was receive treatment for an addiction I didn’t think I had. But an unfortunate series of events led me to Sierra Tucson and I’m glad it did. Upon getting to Sierra Tucson, not only was I in denial about my alcohol addiction, but I was resentful, apathetic and frankly didn’t want anything to do with recovery, counselors or sobriety.
What I found at Sierra Tucson was the real me. The 30 days I spent in rehab was more about discovery than anything else. It was the beginning of my recovery which I still practice today. It wasn’t easy and I don’t think it was supposed to be. My team counselor had me examine my behaviors and patterns of thinking which led me there. What I discovered changed my life forever. The team at Sierra Tucson helped me start a process which replaced shame and guilt, as the result of trauma and alcoholism, with understanding and compassion.
My wife and brother attended family week. This week helped my family and I understand how my addiction affected everyone around me, especially the ones who loved me most. This precious week also started a process of repairing the relationships I damaged as the result of my drinking. Sierra Tucson also counseled my family and led them in the direction of recovery as well.
Their experiential therapy was very diverse and was beneficial for me. The nurses were not only there to dispense medication, but were there to lend an ear when I was down and in a bad place. When I left Sierra Tucson I was able to understand a little more clearly what drove me to this destructive behavior. I live life today free of alcohol and am still in recovery.
If anyone is thinking of attending Sierra Tucson I would advise that all it takes to make the most of their stay is open mindedness, willingness and honesty. There is hope out there and the staff of Sierra Tucson truly understands. If you are suffering from addiction then I would recommend Sierra Tucson as the starting point to your recovery. My family and I are truly grateful to Sierra Tucson and their Alumni Group for bringing hope in time of discord.

I attended ST in Spring of 2007 and it was a transformational experience. I was recommended to attend ST by my trusted and long time therapist. After reading through the positive and negative experiences in these reviews it is once again a reminder of how grateful I am for the treatment I received while there.
I too was insane when I walked through the doors, it wasn’t easy but I knew I was there because everything else wasn’t work anymore. I eventually woke up from my «nightmare» and the fog cleared, I started to become willing take suggestions. Most of the staff are in recovery for everything that the patients were there for and repeat customers of ST proved to me that action is the only way out. My group therapist still checks in with me on my anniversary and is key to my recovery.
ST is a unique «rehab» in that it treats cross addiction which in my four years of sobriety I find to be an excellent reminder that the root of my «problem» is my emotional state. There are all sorts of people attending this facility, some were ready, some had a longer road than others and some were just unwilling to take the help that they needed. I saw it there and I see it everyday in those trying to recover.
If you want to get better, there is no better place to attend. The love and support that I got from not only the staff, but also from the people I attended with was an experience that was life changing.

The love and support I received was amazing. I was scared to death to go to treatment. What I learned later, was that what I was scared the most about was giving up my vices that carried me for so many years.
I learned to make healthy choices, that I did not have to be a doormat to anyone, that there was support in the world for me, that I was not alone in my struggles, that others have walked before me and have found relief by working a program of recovery, and for that I’m grateful for my treatment experience.
A gift that changed my life and my family is that another one of my loved ones went through ST after I did. The healing has contiuned and my dad and I have a relationship that I never thought was possible.
What I do know its my responsibility to keep walking the recovery path. But, with my responsibilty its nice to know that I’m never alone. I’ve never missed an alumni reunionsince I’ve been out. I have friends for life who are willing to listen to me anytime night or day.
Their alumni department has continued to support me over the years with follow up emails and calls. Plus, they host workshops and an annual retreat every year. I’m hoping someday to get a group started in my home town.
I’ve also returned on several occasions to share my story with the patient population. That is an experience I would recommend to any who has been thru the program. Plus, I found if I arrived early I got to have dinner and possibly walk the grounds which really brought back some healing memories.