Addiction Treatment at Mayo Clinic

Intensive Addiction Program (Residential)

"We have an open campus, so patients can interact with the outside world and its challenges. This gives us an opportunity to address issues while you're still in treatment."
- Sean Haggerty, inpatient addiction counselor

Mayo's Intensive Addictions Program is for adults (age 18 and older). Patients stay at Mayo for 28 days of intensive treatments for alcoholism, drug addiction (including narcotics, prescription medications, and others), and any coexisting mental health disorders. The residential program is designed to provide a safe environment to establish sobriety and develop relapse-prevention skills. In 2007, more than 170 people were treated in this program.

Mayo's addiction programs are based on the latest addictions research. Patients have access to anti-craving medications, in addition to traditional counseling therapies. While in the intensive program, patients are exposed to many different types of treatment, incorporating:

• Motivational enhancement
• Cognitive behavior therapy
• Relapse prevention techniques
• 12-step facilitation
• Anti-craving medication

Residential program patient room

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Respect for the Individual

Mayo's residential treatment program emphasizes respect for the individual. All residential rooms are single, private rooms with private bathrooms. Computer access is available on the unit. Patients are free to go into the community for meals, exercise, or outings with friends and family.

Structured, Full-Day Program

A typical day in the residential treatment program is highly structured, including personal time, group therapy, special programs and short breaks. Activities vary from day to day, and include:

• Focus group
• Medication self-administration
• Structured group (addiction education)
• Process group (group therapy)
• Evening programs
• Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
• Experiential group
  Hands-on information on pertinent topics like nutrition and nicotine
• Recreational therapy
  Learn leisure alternatives to drugs and alcohol
• Healthy living program
• Craving group
  In this once-per-week group, you identify where you are on the craving scale and discuss triggers
• Alumni meetings

Generose Building grounds

Intensive Addiction Family Program

The Intensive Addiction Family Program is offered for family members of patients in the intensive addiction residential program. The goal of the family program is to help family members learn about addictive disorders, including coping skills, problem-solving techniques, and instilling hope and confidence in the recovery journey.

This one-day session is offered the first and third Monday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except holidays). To register, contact Addiction Services at 507-255-4151.

Follow-up care

Completing the intensive addiction program is just the first step on the road to recovery. Many Mayo patients enter Outpatient Addiction Services and then the Continuing Care programs. Others continue care closer to home. Mayo Clinic's team coordinates care with the referring medical team to ensure patients stay on track toward recovery. Resources for ongoing self-help groups also are provided, such as the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program.

To monitor progress and offer support during recovery, the Mayo addictions treatment team follows up with patients every three months for one year following graduation from the intensive program.