When considering treatment, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Below, we have provided a list of some common questions and answers about addiction and our treatment programs. However, if you don’t find the answer you are looking for, please do not hesitate to call us and speak with us directly. We are always here to listen or to answer your questions.
Below is a small list of withdrawal symptoms from commonly abused substances:
Alcohol withdrawal:
Opioid withdrawal:
Amphetamine withdrawal:
Benzodiazepine withdrawal:
Cocaine, stimulant, and hallucinogen withdrawal:
To join Alta Mira’s residential treatment program, you must be at least 18. The average age of our clients changes with each current group receiving treatment. Please feel free to talk to our admissions counselors about the ages of current residents if this is a concern to you.
At Alta Mira, our goal is to design highly individualized treatment plans so that you receive the most effective treatment for your personal needs. We ask that new clients commit to a stay of 30 days.
All of the rooms at Alta Mira offer luxury and comfort, allowing you to make the most of your time with us. Depending on your desire for companionship or privacy, you have the following room options:
What to bring to treatment is important – to make sure you have the things you need, and you don’t bring an items that are not allowed. To simplify your planning, we have created a list of things to pack when you are preparing to enter treatment at Alta Mira.
Our top-quality recovery programs are all-inclusive, covering all of your clinical treatment, luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, a number of massages, yoga, personal training and acupuncture sessions, and our continuing care and alumni programs.
The price of your program depends on your admitting diagnosis, length of stay, withdrawal symptoms, and accommodations (e.g., double vs. private rooms). Please call us, and we will answer any specific questions you may have regarding pricing.
Alta Mira is a private pay facility; however we do accept TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Kaiser Permanente. We also assist clients in getting as much insurance reimbursement as possible for all eligible services. However, the amount of the reimbursement is at the discretion of each client’s insurance provider.
Clients are responsible for payment of services upon admission. The actual cost varies depending upon the program, the accommodations, and the initial length of stay. Each client’s insurance company is fully responsible for making the decision on the amount and timing of reimbursement for our services. Our team will complete verification of benefits, utilization review, all billing, and insurance appeals on your behalf.
We require full payment at time of admission. If this poses a financial hardship, please contact our business office to talk about your situation.
Yes, Alta Mira is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
At Alta Mira, we go above and beyond to ensure security, protect confidentiality, and offer the utmost privacy for our residents and their families, addressing special concerns of our high-profile clients.
So that you receive maximum benefit from the time you invest with us, we keep the days full at Alta Mira. Here is an example of a typical Monday:
| 7:00—7:30 | Breakfast |
| 7:30—8:00 | Morning Community Meeting |
| 8:00—9:00 | Yoga / Group Acupuncture / Tai Chi |
| 9:00—10:00 | Lecture on Neurobiology of Addiction |
| 10:00—10:30 | Self Care |
| 10:30—Noon | Process Group |
| Noon—1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00—2:00 | Recovery Skills Group |
| 2:00—5:30 | Individual Therapy |
| 3:00—4:00 | Gym |
| 4:00—6:00 | Massage, Acupuncture, Self Care |
| 6:00—7:00 | Dinner |
| 7:00—9:00 | Support Group Meetings |
| 9:00—9:30 | Closure Group |
| 9:30—10:30 | Self Care and Medication |
| 11:00 | Lights Out |
Every treatment program has its own policies regarding the use of mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices. Some programs don’t allow phones or electronics at all.
The electronics policy at Alta Mira was designed to provide a process for clients to have access to telephone and computer for personal, and business needs, while establishing and maintaining a healthy focus on treatment goals without the potential distraction of unlimited electronics access.
Questions regarding the electronics policy may be addressed to your admissions specialist or primary therapist.
Clients may receive packages from family and friends while in treatment. However, for safety, we do not accept and food or drink products. Also, for your privacy, when you are having something delivered, it must be approved by the clinical team before delivery, or it will not be accepted.
Because Alta Mira encourages you to pursue your highest potential health, we encourage smoking cessation and provide medical assistance to help you discontinue smoking or tobacco use. However, we do not mandate that clients stop using nicotine while in the program. If you use nicotine while you’re here, you will receive a treatment plan requiring you to examine your tobacco use. If you are ready to quit nicotine while in treatment, we will provide withdrawal medications, education, counseling and other support services.
Our staff includes our Executive Chef who will make sure your gourmet meals are crafted to meet your special dietary needs. After arrival at Alta Mira, you will meet with Chef Steve who will offer detailed recommendations on your dietary and nutritional needs.
Yes, we encourage connection with friends and family. Our visiting hours are typically every Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. While in treatment, you will request permission in advance to have visitors, and they must sign a release of information.
At Alta Mira, we believe pets contribute to the warm, nurturing environment we create for our clients. Therefore, we allow you to bring your pet to treatment. Please know that you must select a single room and follow certain rules in order to keep your pet with you at Alta Mira. If you are interested in bringing your pet to treatment, please let our admissions counselors know so that they can give you all the information you need. If you decide to bring a pet to treatment, you will need to choose a private room or suite for your stay.
Alta Mira Recovery Programs provides the best quality treatment in one of the most beautiful and serene settings in the world. Clients are treated to panoramic views of the entire San Francisco Bay, while receiving the most comprehensive clinical care available. You can expect the following when you come to Alta Mira:
Yes. Clients who undergo detox treatment are monitored by Alta Mira’s highly credentialed medical team. They are all licensed independent affiliates, including our American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) certified psychiatrist, our ASAM certified internal medicine physician, our Chair of Addiction Medicine, and 24-hour Detox Specialists. Detox is included in the treatment price.
Yes. Every person’s path to addiction is unique, and their path out of it must be as well. Our alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs are tailored to meet your specific needs and goals. We also offer specialized treatment for co-occurring disorders and chronic relapse.
Our highly trained specialists help you to break the relapse cycle by creating highly individualized treatment, focusing on the resolution of all underlying issues that have contributed to your struggle with alcohol or drugs. Plus, we develop a comprehensive relapse prevention plan, specifically tailored to your needs. At this level of care, you will learn how to identify your personally unique relapse warning signs, develop effective management strategies, and leave treatment with an individualized Recovery Plan that addresses your specific triggers.
Yes. In order to support your lasting recovery, we help you to resolve all co-occurring issues, such as anxiety and depression, that have contributed to your struggles with substance abuse. After arrival at Alta Mira, you will be given psychiatric and psychological assessments, along with a medication evaluation, monitoring, education about the illness, symptoms management strategies, and individual therapy for your co-occurring disorder(s). Our experts help you to develop a recovery plan for your psychological or psychiatric issues, complementing your recovery plan for addiction.
Yes. We believe that the support of your family is crucial for long-term recovery. With your consent, we include your family in our evaluation, treatment and discharge planning. Our model for family therapy is comprehensive and unique. With your authorization, we give family members weekly updates and include them in our 3-day family program, which includes private family therapy, psychoeducation, and multi-family process groups. In this way, you and your family are encouraged to work through issues surrounding your substance abuse, allowing them to better understand and support you in recovery.
Yes, we continue to provide top-quality care after you leave our campus. Alta Mira offers comprehensive discharge planning and lifetime alumni support. Plus, you can continue your treatment after you leave our campus in our Intensive Outpatient Program. Once you successfully complete treatment, we encourage you to return to attend weekly alumni support groups and quarterly alumni events.
While we are not primarily a medical or psychiatric facility, Alta Mira has an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) certified psychiatrist who is a licensed independent affiliate. This psychiatrist provides care to each client throughout his or her stay, and is on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day for medical and/or psychiatric emergencies. Our on-site medical office is also staffed 24 hours per day with licensed Detox Specialists.
We keep our staff-to-client ratio low so that we can focus our full attention on you and your recovery. During the day, our clinical staff-to-client ratio is approximately 1:2. During the evenings, the ratio is 1:3, and overnight it is 1:6.
