Tradition is the name of the game at Caron, which prides itself on more than 50 years of leadership in the rehab world. An old-school, no-nonsense treatment program, Caron offers comprehensive professional care and reasonable comfort. Of course, half a century is ample time to rack up a few complaints, and your mileage may vary.
Caron separates its 250 patients by age and gender, with separate facilities and specialized treatment programs for adolescents, young adults and adults over 25. In addition, Caron also provides a special program for addicts who themselves are healthcare professionals and another specifically for patients who have relapsed. The buildings are arranged on a 10-acre “campus,” and the interiors fittingly resemble college dorms, cafeterias and lecture halls.
Those seeking a vacation will not find it at Caron. Rules abound and are strictly enforced, and days unfold according to a structured schedule. Interaction with the opposite sex is prohibited; women and men eat buffet-style on separate sides of the dining hall and even sit on separate sides of the chapel during the optional chapel Sunday services. Electronics are not allowed, and until recently, neither was caffeine (despite being a standby at AA meetings). The young adult program in particular keeps residents on a tight leash—mandatory attendance and constant supervision—while adults over 25 are given more freedom. But it’s not all work and no play. The schedule includes four hours of free time during when residents can go camping, hiking or rafting or use the large standalone gym. Trips to the movies are common in the adolescent unit, although teens must travel in groups of three and cannot get into non-Caron vehicles.
Treatment is firmly rooted in the traditional 12-step model. Being a larger rehab, Caron can’t be as personalized as smaller centers, but the clinicians do their best to make sure residents receive one-on-one attention and individual treatment programs that make sense for them. All patients begin with a five-day residential assessment to help plan the rest of their treatment, which includes a combination of group and individual counseling, lectures and speaker meetings. Patients meet one-on-one with psychologists daily as well as with addiction counselors who assign writing tasks based on 12-step readings. Family education is a part of every Caron patient’s program, including multi-family group sessions that have been described as both painful and cathartic. Unsurprisingly, Caron keeps Malibu-style new-ageyness and luxuries to a minimum. Although yoga is available and each day begins with meditation, you won’t find equine therapy or massages here. Many alumni praise the staff’s knowledge, compassion, and level of investment in the patient.
In keeping with its 12-step roots, Caron encourages participation in spiritual activities. The Sunday chapel service featuring the eccentric Father Bill is somewhat legendary. Shabbat service is available for Jewish patients. All faiths are respected and all spiritual activities are optional, though some spiritual involvement is strongly advised.
Despite its lack of ultra-ritzy accommodations, Caron still sports a pretty hefty price tag. It boasts that it provides more financial aid than any other rehab, but some patients have reported difficulties financing their treatment because of battles with stubborn insurance companies.
Caron often refers patients to Extended Care at Caron Renaissance in Boca Raton, Florida. A smaller facility, Caron Texas, is located near Dallas.
Caron Pennsylvania
243 North Galen Hall Road
Wernersville, PA 19565
Cost: $36,000/30 days; Find Caron on Facebook and Twitter
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