Desert Hope/Las Vegas, Nevada American Addiction Centers Desert Hope. Beware!! All Out Deception Wrapped In An Enticing Setting And Elaborate Accommodations. Las Vegas Nevada

16:55:542014-12-05I’m noting this experience for anyone out there that might be looking for help from a rehabilitation facility for themselves or a family member with a drug or alcohol addiction. Please take note before you choose the Desert Hope Facility (American Addiction Centers) in Las Vegas, NV.

My involvement started in April of this year when I called the American Addiction Center for information for a teenage family member.  He was facing some legal issues that seem to go hand in hand with this addiction. He was court ordered to immediately enter a facility. I then called American Addiction Center's 800# and spoke to Michelle, an intake specialist that told me everything that I wanted to hear. She said my family member would be in the care of Master degreed Therapist's with at least (30) years of experience. Also, the patient would be seen at least (2) times a week, with a qualified therapist for drug counseling. She stated that the patient would have the most intensive therapy a facility could offer. Unfortunately time did not allow me to check further into the record or complaint's lodged against this facility.

I'm the Grandmother of this patient and living on a fixed income but was sold into thinking that this facility was going to help get him better. I then turned over to them the sum of $26,500.00 for a (30) day rehab stay. During the process of his stay he tested positive twice for drugs and or alcohol, of which he said were readily available within the facility. One of the incidents occurred with another female patient, which supposedly gender are segregated within the facility. This has been noted by other patient's reports and it is being used against this facility by Drug Rehabilitation Referral sources in the Las Vegas community, which I have spoken to several since this stay.

There was a situation that arose while some of the patients were taken outside of the facility. My Grandson stated that it involved a P.T.S.D patient. A member of the staff thought it would be funny to turn the sprinkler system on that patient. This patient was absolutely beside himself at what had just happened to him. Other's laughed and my Grandson thought it was one of the cruelest things he had ever witnessed. How could you not be affected by seeing this? There was also a case of food poisoning at this five star chef facility according to my Grandson with several patients reporting.

The course of treatment was to over schedule patients in group counseling, most of the day with very little individual therapy involved. Very cost effective treatment. After a while patient's stop attending these sessions on a regular basis and the only thing the medical records state is absent due to reason(s) UNKNOWN. These are in house patient's UNDER THEIR ACCOUNTABILITY.  Of the (8) therapy sessions contracted only (3) were delivered by the therapist. ( It also stated on their website (2) times a week with a Therapist.) He was walked by his therapist after one of his (3)sessions to see if he could get into see the Psychiatrist as she thought it was essential for the wellbeing of the patient. He was put on a wait list and never did have that session. It might have something to do with this 150 bed facility and extreme understaffing.

This facility appears to have any lack of organizational control, with policies and procedures not being followed on a consistent basis.  Patient's right's being violated by the right to a clean environment without access to drugs in order to recover. The C.E.O. of Desert Hope has turned over several times, along with other staff, in the course of being open only a few years. Fredrika Kolade was the C.E.O when my family member was in this facility and now there is an interim C.E.O. by the name of Paul Reed. He stated things have been turning around since his arrival three months ago but that does not help what took place previously.

I emailed and discussed my concerns with Desert Hope and corporate for the last (6) months. I paid cash for this (30) day stay and asked for an accounting of how the monies were used to facilitate my Grandson's recovery. The corporate office in Tennessee refused to send me a breakdown of expenditures for his care. I can understand how this denying me, with a signed release by the patient, protects them. Sarah, from corporate, said cash paid for care was bundled. I was told billing would only itemize for insurance companies and Medicaid patients. My Grandson needs future care from a facility that can be held accountable for producing an environment conducive to recovery. I have tried to negotiate some type of a refund from this facility and all they want to do is put him back through the same program, of which he refuses.

I ordered the medical records for my family member's stay to get to the bottom of what had been provided during the course of his (30) day stay. I discovered that basically he was housed with very little professional help for his addiction and made worse by his stay at Desert Hope. He received very little to no intensive care for my $26,500.00 paid to this facility. His RELEASE AND PLAN OF CARE was electronically dated by his Therapist in November when he was released in May. This was the day before I received his records. Upon release he immediately relapsed and spent two month's being incarcerated. He stated while in the facility that "He would rather be in jail" than to spend one more day at Desert Hope.

 It is nearly impossible to get ahold of anyone or even when you do they are baffled by any request for information. They come across as completely untrained to be answering the phones. I have been given the run around by their office personnel on numerous occasions. False information was given to me as to the fact that the interim C.E.O. was no longer there. This was brought to corporates attention and I was told that person would receive a reprimand.

Don't be deceived by all the empty promises offered up by the "Desert Oasis" advertising and fast-talkers. It is not always true that you get what you pay for and in this case worse off than before treatment. I hope everyone will come forward with their less than stellar experiences’ with this company and their idea of therapy. Save yourself from the heartache I've been through with a beloved family member and the loss of substantial finances. Money hungry scam in progress. I hope the founder of this organization, Michael Cartwright, comes to know that his "Believable Hope" book is just a sham.