Passages Malibu

[Jtb12]

I was just wondering if anyone has ever been to the rehab facility Passage Malibu or know anyone who has?  I've seen the commercials and ads and thought it seemed like a great place to be miserable I guess.  I've never been thru this before as this will be my first time so I'm totally clueless on rehabs and withdrawling.  I became addicted after a major surgery.  Thanks in advance for any insight

[mybabytwins]

Awesome...I had a great time at Passages however for me and again for what I know now, it wasn't worth 72,000 dollars. I wish you all the best!! Great luck!!!!

[Dane74]

I went 2 years ago, and i still see a therapist once a week.  I reach out to others when i feel triggered, and no secrets!  And of course medhelp is truly my lifesaver!

[mybabytwins]

Hi Dane, I am curious how long ago you went to Passages. What are you doing now to stay sober? Thanks

[Dane74]

OK, here goes, i am sure i will loss some respect but since its the NEw Year and i am still learning how to not give a rip what others think here i go.......  Passages Malubu is where i went and it was GREAT!  I went for 35 days and received a TON of one to one therapy and also group.  The place really concentrates on individual therapy, sound therapy, hypo, etc. and yes you are in a posh place with fancy decor overlooking the pacific but the end result is to get you clean and teach you to stay clean!  Its very much all ablaut coping skills and preparing you to enter the "real" world once you complete the program.  I have gained so much knowledge from Passages and had some of the most amazing therapists to help me become the girl i am today.  As for the founding fathers Chris and Pax Prentiss, i met them both,  Pax being the son and recovered addict, yes, they are all about the BUSINESS, in the end its all about money, i personally do not believe in there views that addiction is "curable" but i do believe that they run an AMAZING program.  They also have there book that they wrote about addiction being "curable" by no means do i believe this nor did i read it, but the therapists were all just amazing and also what i loved is most of the folks were recovering addicts so they really understood me and all the other addicts there.  I had my fare share of problems there too, as would can have at any rehab facility being drugs did get sneaked in, and of course some drama, but over all i had a great learning experience, they detoxed me, and taught me so much about addiction and my inner child and how to be a women with out my DOC, and how to become the women i want to be.  I still remain in contact with 2 of my therapist i had there via Skype and they truly care about the individual.  So in my opinion, i think it was a great experience, a great rehab, and most important, i became clean, learned how to live life clean, how to use the tools to stay clean, and how to reach for help, and AFTERCARE!!!!!!!  Just my 2 cents.... BEst of luck

[mybabytwins]

I have been to Passages and for what I know now you could save yourself a boat load of money going somewhere else. Rehab is nothing more than a place to get some clean time when you really need it. It's learning how to live a sober life that makes all the difference. That is done in a variety of ways e.g. 12 step groups, transitional/sober living facility, church, etc. Here is the deal...it will take a full year of sobriety before the new way of life even begins. At least that's how it was when I got off cocaine. Now 8 years later, I had a short 5 month deal with pain medicine. Thought that it would really help my shoulder pain, however once an addict, always an addict. If you would like to learn more about Passages, feel free to send me a Private Message. Great success!

[Jtb12]

Yeah I've been prescribed both restorils and valuims for years and never had an issue with them. I just take them every once in awhile when I can't sleep. I never had an issue with pills even tho I was on Percocet 5s and 7.5 for almost 10 years  I would take my whole rx within a week or 2 then go the rest of the month wo any.  It's when I had my surgery and I was given the oxycodone 15s  I thought since I never had an issue before I wouldn't have no problem.  Well I couldn't of been more wrong.  I get 140 a month and I run out about 4 days before my drs visit so I'm finding them off the street to get me to my appointment. I tried cutting them in half and yet found myself just taken them more often

[VICourageous]

Yes!!! A Benzo with draw is the worst..I did that c/t with my Methadone and another drug..Be SAFE!!
That commercial makes me have to bite my tongue..I always wonder where that guy is today. Ha!!
If you do go to a Rehab make sure YOU do your Homework and see what comfort meds they use. I highly like the ones that teach you all about the Map of the Brain and what drugs hit what area of the Brain. They will also show you videos about the Disease and teach you about the Pleasure Part of the brain and beyond willpower.
It did me wonders beside all the Support, I got to study all I can about Substances and the Brain Waves..(sorta speaking). You'll get a insite on how this all works on our Brain, Body and Soul..I wish you the best what ever you do..We are here for you all the way.
Bless

[ROSYouralright]

That guy is selling a"dream."

[clean_in_ks]

Just a word of caution for you...Restoril and Valium are both benzos....MUST be tapered and are both VERY addictive.  I found getting off a benzo MUCH harder than opiates.  Just in case you weren't aware~

[Jtb12]

I don't think I have the will power either.  I just stated a few hours ago just to see how long I could stand it and already I felt like my stomach was messed up I was freezing and rls. Typical withdrawl symptoms.  So I gave in and took a fourth of a pill.   Mind over matter  I guess.   I do get restorils which is a sleeping pill and valuims which I'm out of until I can get in my drs on the 8th so maybe I will hold off until then. if i have pills im going to take them, i cant keep my hands out of the cookie jar lol. I give tons of credit to everyone who actually was strong enough to go thru this process.

[Jenny9906]

Like clean in Ks said, CT vs taper is totally up to you and what works best for you. For me personally, I am completely unable to taper. I have zero will power when it come to those stupid pills. There have been times in the past where I've been like "yeah I'm gonna taper" came up with a legit taper plan, on a calendar by the day...usually I would do a 25 day plan...and every single time I would follow it for about 2 days, then all of the pills that were supposed to be for the 25 days were gone in 5 or 6 days. Awesome right? LOL! Needless to say, I came to a point where I was just like tapering is not an option for me...I just can't do it. And while cold turkey *****, and you feel like you're gonna die...you aren't gonna die. :) at least I haven't yet...haha!

[clean_in_ks]

The decision to taper or CT is strictly up to the addict.  Many of us don't want to draw out the physical detox part of it and have no ability to taper...even if they were "dispensed" to me I ALWAYS begged for more than my taper amount. (or hunted them down like a dog in heat!)  I had a half a bottle of all the drugs I cold turkeyed off of.  I, too, thought you could die or that it "was better" if you tapered.  If you have no health issues...you can CT.....it's a very personal choice.  The most important thing is the desire to get off the narcotics and then do it, right?

Some people can...I couldn't.  When I was ready....I WAS READY!  Got rid of ALL the pills and hunkered down and did it.  I might have felt like I was dying...but a year and a half later...you can see I didn't ....LOL

It's really up to you....you can try to taper...and if it gets too tough...you can always just go for it and CT.  I wish you well whatever you decide to do~

[Jtb12]

He sure does make it look glamorous tho  lol. I figured it wasn't what it was being made out to be. And yes the new car thing is so true. I see more addiction commercials and billboards now then ever.   So is tapering down the way to go or just cold turkey? I heard if you just go cold turkey it's horrible for your body not that taken pills everyday is much better.

[Jenny9906]

Omg...I know there is nothing funny about any of our situations, but when you typed 'the guy says "I used to be an addict, now I'm not"' from the commercial I burst out laughing, I sure wish I knew what his secret is! LOL! Yeah, I'm 110% on board with everyone here who says addiction is a life long issue.  It's not something that just goes away.

[3Xs_U_R_Out]

They must be playing those commercials a lot everywhere. I see them all the time now. Perhaps it's just my situation.
You know when you get a new car and then you see the same car everywhere? That kinda thing.
Anyway...I kinda got from the commercial that they think they can cure addiction. They guy says "I used to be an addict now I'm not".
All I can think is of us here on this forum talking about how addiction is a life long process. The proof is in the number of times we relapse.
I would say better to go some place with medicine and science behind it.
Just me though. The spiritual stuff comes in after the detox. Again just me though

[clean_in_ks]

Passage Malibu, huh?  Sounds pretty enticing doesn't it?

They are well known as being one of THE most expensive rehabs in the U.S........like to a tune of approximately $100,000 a month.  They reject the belief that addiction is a disease.  They believe you can be "cured" from addiction and that addiction is merely a "behavioral problem" usually rooted in some childhood issues you haven't dealt with.
I also read this:

"The center was founded by a father and son, Chris and Pax Prentiss. Chris Prentiss is a former real estate developer with no formal training in rehabilitation or medicine"

I don't know about you....but when if and when I chose to go to rehab, I sure would appreciate going to a place where there is knowledge about medicine and rehabilitation.

I know you are new to all of this and I'm REALLY glad you asked this question.  We each have to seek the recovery that we think suits us best and realize there is no "easy" way to go thru w/drawals no matter what our environment provides.  Getting clean is HARD...and having an ocean view and a high priced Chef might have helped me some...but those first two weeks I was so sick I could have cared less.  For ME... it was a time to get thru the physical detox and focus on what was going on inside of me...then learning coping skills to live clean and sober.  After that....THEN a stay in a beachfront resort in Malibu might be appreciated~    

[katmandu516]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum! Passages Malibu looks like a totally awesome place to detox and withdraw doesn't it?  If I had the money, and I probably speak for a lot of us when I say, if you have the money and the time, I'd go there if I were you!! If you want to know info, you could always Google it and get a phone number to call. This forum is for people who go c/t at home. Some are tapering per their Dr.'s orders.  And we all help each other get thru it together on this forum. Good Luck, and Happy New Year.