Because of COVID-19 and current restrictions from the government, you may be wondering if it’s safe to go to a residential treatment center right now to begin your recovery from addiction. The truth is, addiction doesn’t wait for circumstances to change, and its effects can quickly get worse. This is even more important since mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety may increase due to social isolation.
If it’s time for you to go to treatment, what matters is knowing what kind of precautions your prospective treatment center is taking in order to prevent the spread of disease. At BeWell Network, we have instituted a set of federally-informed COVID protocols to keep our staff and patients healthy during this time.
An Overview of CDC Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 spreads through close contact, primarily through respiratory droplets that are generated when a person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes. The virus can be spread whether an infected person is showing symptoms or not.
Infection can occur when a person breathes in these droplets, which can linger temporarily in the air. COVID does not usually spread through contact with surfaces, though it’s important to keep things very clean. Otherwise, people may become infected if they touch their faces (mouth, nose, or eyes) after touching a virus-laden surface.
This is why the CDC has advised for everyone to wear masks, wash their hands often, use hand sanitizer, and maintain social distance (about six feet) from others.
COVID Precautions at BeWell Network Treatment Centers
At BeWell Network, we have made adjustments to our program to prevent the spread of COVID and keep our staff and clients as safe as possible.
In addition to having treatment professionals and residents wear masks at all times, we have implemented social distancing wherever possible, we clean contact surfaces and communal spaces regularly, and we encourage frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer.
During the assessment phase (pre-treatment), we review the CDC symptom checklist with each potential client. At admission, the client answers these questions again, receives a temperature check, and is tested with an oximeter (which measures a person’s blood oxygen levels). Clients will also receive a rapid COVID test during the admission process. Staff who are feeling sick are not allowed to come to work, and we have instructed our team to eliminate any unnecessary travel.
We have also made the following changes:
- 12-Step Meetings will be conducted in house or via video chat (to participate with online meetings).
- Visitors on site will be limited to an urgent need in an emergency.
- To accommodate the change in visitation, residents will have more phone time.
- Doctor visits will be conducted via telehealth sessions.
- Client public outings will be evaluated in accordance with the current government executive order.
These are just a few of the ways that we are maintaining optimal safety for everyone, though there are many more. We have the utmost concern for the health of our team and those receiving addiction and mental health treatment at our centers.
If you have questions about our COVID protocols or whether now is the right time to attend treatment at a residential center, please get in touch with us today. We can answer your questions and provide the information you need.
Help for Addiction and Mental Health Issues at BeWell Network
BeWell Network is a family of evidence-based treatment centers. We help individuals suffering from addiction find the path to recovery, offering customized treatment experiences for the restoration of the mind, body, and spirit. If you or a loved one is seeking help for an addiction or mental health issue, please get in touch with our team today. We can assess your situation and recommend treatment options, verifying your benefits for free. We have a no-hassle billing process and are committed to providing treatment designed specially for you.
