The Serenity House is located in Wallingford Vermont and is a nonprofit private residential substance abuse treatment center and part of Recovery House, Inc. The Serenity House includes a professional staff that helps people wanting to recover from alcohol and drug addiction begin their recovery process. Their staff is professional and dedicated to helping people accomplish their recovery goals from alcohol dependence, drug addiction or both and they provide a wide range of services to help their clients reach their goals. All of their services are based on the client’s individual needs.

Serenity House Services Provided for Their Clients

1. Medically Assisted Social Detoxification
2. Medical Consultation
3. Individual Counseling
4. Group Therapy
5. Educational Groups
6. Self-Help Groups
7. Assistance in Vocational and Housing Issues

Detoxification is the first step Serenity House provides for their clients keeping them comfortable and minimizing discomfort that can be experienced at this time. Detox takes place is a comfortable home like setting and atmosphere with around the clock nursing care. There is also a physician that’s on call daily around the clock if needed.

Detoxification from alcohol at The Serenity House in Vermont usually last around 4 days depending on the individual’s progress and needs. They suggest the use of Librium which is a benzodiazepine that’s used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms which include shakiness and to also prevent seizures. Other medications can be administers for the symptoms of nausea or diarrhea if needed.

Detoxification from opiates lasts for around 7 days but can be shorter or longer depending on the individual’s progress and needs as well. During the first couple of days their clients can be assessed 4 times which the client chooses. Necessary medications are prescribed according to the needs determined by a clinical opiate withdrawal scale.

• Days 3 and 4, Three Assessments are done each day
• Days 5 and 6, Two Assessments are done each day
• Day 7, One Assessment is done that day.

Chlordiazepoxide which is Librium is also used during Serenity House’s opiate detoxification protocol including other medications if needed for nausea, stomach cramps, aches and pains, and diarrhea.

There are standard protocols Serenity House follows during the detoxification process but they’re tailored to accommodate the needs of their clients individually because detox can vary for each person. The most common detoxification protocols that are accommodated at Serenity House are withdrawal from alcohol and opiates but they also provide detox protocols for benzodiazepine and cocaine as well.

The policy at Serenity House is to seek their clients input in all other phases of their residential treatment which includes:

• Screening
• Intake
• Assessments
• Development of the Client’s Treatment Plan
• Weekly Community Meetings
• Daily Focus and Wrap-Up Groups
• Grievance Procedures and Through Open Door Policy

Family Program

Growing Beyond Addiction is a program for families or close friends who are involved in the addicts life. They understand that the family also suffers when someone they love has a problem with alcohol or drugs, addiction affects everyone. Topics that are covered include Addiction and Enabling, Addiction and Co-Dependency, and Addiction and Detaching with Love.

For almost 4 decades Serenity House has offered a safe haven for treatment and sober living to alcoholics and drug addicts. Their primary purpose is to provide their clients and their families with information, skills, and the resources necessary to obtain and sustain an alcohol free and drug free lifestyle.