Community Substance Abuse Centers (CSAC) opened in Westfield, MA in 1989. Service expansion is determined by the needs identified by the treatment population as well as the unmet need in under-served communities. Expansion efforts have resulted in the successful licensure of sites in Westfield, MA (1989); Northampton, MA (1993); Chicopee, MA (1994); Hartford, CT (1995); New Bedford, MA (1998); Greenfield, MA (1999); Hudson, NH (1999); Peabody, MA (2002); Woburn, MA (2002); Chelsea, MA (2003); Somersworth, NH (2003); Newington, NH (2006); Portland, ME (2007); Lewiston, ME (2011); and Jamaica Plain, MA (2013).
Business
Community Substance Abuse Centers is a privately owned for-profit corporation. This tax status, particularly of health care providers, is sometimes misunderstood in a negative manner, conveying the notion that the major emphasis is to increase profitability. While this may be true of publicly traded companies, which must maximize profits for its shareholders, it is not true of this privately owned organization. The Community Substance Abuse Centers shareholder/owners participate on a daily basis in the administrative and medical care aspects of patient/consumer services. There is an evident commitment throughout the organization to provide quality and compassionate care to the patient/consumers in treatment. The commitment to excellence has been awarded with a three-year accreditation from CARF, an international accreditation body.
AdmissionAdmissions are processed during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Emergency admissions, including pregnant women, psychiatric and/or medical referrals, are completed within forty-eight hours of initial contact. The admission process includes a bio-psychosocial assessment, physical examination, blood tests, urinalysis and urine drug screen.
TreatmentServices include pharmacological treatment with methadone and other medications in combination with individual, group and family counseling. Treatment is individualized and driven by objective goals. HIV/AIDS education counseling and testing services are provided for all patient/consumers. Patient/consumers are encouraged to participate in self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, and the program utilizes self-help principles in treatment. The philosophy of care recognizes addiction as a primary disease, emphasizes the need for compassion, and encourages a drug free lifestyle. To sustain achievements in treatment, aftercare counseling offers additional support to patient/consumers who no longer require medication.
StaffingThe Community Substance Abuse Centers' treatment team consists of multidisciplinary professionals who are committed to serving the needs of the addicted patient/consumer. The team is lead by Co-Medical Directors who are Board certified in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine respectively, and who both hold Certification by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The professional staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, counselors, case managers and support staff. Each staff member brings valuable experience and training with appropriate certification; services include HIV counseling and testing. Staff is culturally and linguistically diverse, allowing effective communication and sensitivity to all patient/consumers. Staff is available 24 hours daily to respond to patient/consumer care issues.
Licensure
The program is licensed, regulated and reviewed by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the state methadone authority and drug control agencies. All facilities participate in the CARF accreditation process. Medicaid and other third party payers may provide reimbursement, and we maintain reasonable charges for services.