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ASSISTED RECOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA
(or ARCA) was the first alcoholism treatment program in the nation to adopt the scientific research on naltrexone, which was primarily conducted at the University of Pennsylvania’s Treatment Research Center in Philadelphia, PA, and offer it to the public in a new, non-12 Step treatment alternative, with the use of naltrexone as the centerpiece.

Assisted Recovery is proud to have played a key role in the transfer of this new technology from UPenn to the “real world” environment, and of our part in establishing the Pennsylvania Model of Recovery as an effective treatment option for people seeking to recover from alcohol (or commonly called alcoholism) and opiate/drug dependence.

Assisted Recovery now offers several different non-12 Step, outpatient treatment options designed to start you or your loved one on the road to recovery, and a life free from the bonds of alcohol dependence and or opiate dependence, without any reliance upon a Higher Power or the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Non-12 Step Treatment
We would like to emphasize that we are not anti-AA or NA. We sincerely believe that each individual seeking recovery from dependence should have as many options as possible, including AA’s and NA's primarily spiritual approach to recovery (turning your will and your life over to a Higher Power).

Since its beginning 1935, many people have turned to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous for help with quitting drinking. To this day, most treatment programs in the United States are still based on utilizing the 12 Steps of AA and NA and “The Minnesota Model of Recovery”, so named because that is where 12-Step based treatment had its start.

We recognize that AA, NA and the other 12-Step programs have helped many people get started on the road to recovery. For nearly 60 years, it was virtually the only option that was available to them.

Unfortunately, it is an option that is not appropriate for a great many people seeking recovery, for numerous reasons. Fortunately, today there are other alternatives and options.

The Pennsylvania Model of Recovery
The Pennsylvania Model of Recovery addresses biological, psychological, and social components of the recovery process, and it differs from other treatment models in that it fully embraces the use of safe, effective medications to assist in the recovery process.

The Pennsylvania Model combines the use of several different FDA approved medications to address the biochemical roots of the addiction, together with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps with the psychological and social aspects of the problem. The result is an effective new bio-psycho-social approach to the treatment of alcoholism. A 4th component, spirituality, is left entirely up to the needs of the individual.

Click for a slide show about the Pennsylvania Model

The Pennsylvania Model is named in recognition of the work and research of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine’s Treatment Research Center in Philadelphia, PA. In particular, we’d like to recognize the research and steadfast dedication of Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD, who was a great help to us when Assisted Recovery was founded in 1997.

The vast body of scientific research on alcoholism and opiate drug dependence available today confirms that treatment success rates improve dramatically with the use of effective, FDA-approved anti-craving medications, such as naltrexone and Campral, as well as Suboxone® for opiate drug dependence.

Research on the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy still continues today at numerous other eminent academic institutions, including Yale University, Rutgers University, the University of Texas and the University of California at Los Angeles, among others.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in July of 2005 stated, “All approved drugs have been shown to be effective adjuncts to the treatment of alcohol dependence.” For example: naltrexone (brand name: ReVia®), ondansetron (brand name: Zofran®), Topamax® (generic name: topiramate) and most recently Campral® (generic name: acamprosate.)

Despite overwhelming clinical research documenting the effectiveness of these medical tools, the vast majority of treatment providers, most of whom are 12 Step-based, continue to decline to advise clients of the component of these medications as an effective adjunct to treatment.

We’d like to emphasize that these medications are helpful tools that assist in the recovery process: they are NOT cures in themselves. For example, naltrexone for alcohol and Suboxone for opiates, will not solve family or relationship problems created by dependence. Campral will not solve employment or legal issues. Such medications are vitally important new tools that will help the individual by “leveling the playing field” (by eliminating physical cravings) so that other such issues can begin to be addressed.

With the use of these effective medications, quitting drinking and or opiate drug dependence is no longer the most difficult part of the recovery process. (To put it quite simply, with the craving out of the picture, the most difficult part becomes learning how to be happy in life without the use of alcohol or opiates).

To help individuals with this process, Assisted Recovery utilizes modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as developed by Dr. Albert Ellis of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, to help individuals address the psychological and social components of the recovery process.