A few years ago i was a patient in this facility. I am 15 years old now and was 12 when I left. I hated the place. Some of the staff were helpful but most (like 95 percent of the staff) didn't take their job seriously and would literally look at their phones most of the tim ...
About Desert Hills of New Mexico
Desert Hills of New Mexico is an addiction and mental health treatment center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They treat youth up to the age of 21. Their programs include group homes, residential treatment, educational services, and day treatment. They have special programs for people with hearing impairments and kids in foster care.
Their staff understands the difficulties that parents have and how hard it is to send their child to treatment. They try to make the rehabilitation process smooth, simple, and as safe as possible. Kids find a safe, positive, and individualized place to grow as a person and to learn different life skills based on their specific needs.
Their treatment methods are centered on clients and families. They also stick to a strengths approach that aims to help young people develop skills for successful recovery. The best part about their treatment approach is how personalized it is. Kids can get help for all kinds of challenges beyond addiction such as depression, PTSD, and aggression.
Latest Reviews
What a horrible facility I could go on and on about the horror stories when put in there
Worst place I ve ever been I swallowed multiple batteries in attempts at suicide at one point I almost died I wrapped a long long phone cord around my neck and locked myself in a room need better staff but nope they would never even if it s just for people with addictions now screw it and the trauma the pain I had while getting psychically abused by the staff and rules They also refused me a therapist at treatment if I cried wrong it was called a fit or unsafe behavior why was the therapist still getting payed for things she doesn t do, I ll never forget.
Where to start. I am very livid with the way this "Facility" handles Patients/Family. From the initial contact call made last Friday, Assessment process on Monday, to the "Acceptance" call Today from "Erin Soki" (excuse my spelling, who calls herself Admissions whatever).She called today advising my daughter was accepted and had a bed ready for her. From my assessment held on Monday 10/29/18, I had received one call from the Assessor asking one more question the "Doctor" wanted to know. He advised he would be in contact. (Mind you, this man Joseph Webb, was not prepared for anything. Making me sign here and there without providing me with the documents I was signing I received!?!) No call received regarding her diagnosis.So, I advised Erin that I was still waiting on a call for results she rudely talks over me, stating, "We don't give you results from assessments. An assessment is when you give us information!" Okay. I am very educated nor am I delayed. I can comprehend conversations. Because my daughter is need of "help", do not undermine me or ANY parent for that matter! How freaking rude. She continues to ask if I wanted the bed for my daughter. And I continue to tell her, "I need to know what they are planning to treat her for before I consent to treatment!" So she then states, "if you are not going to take the bed we need to move on to the next child." Me to Erin, "You should move on to the next child because you are crazy to think I would allow my child to go there without proper information on why you are going to keep her there!"So after she had agreed to provide me with the "Diagnosis" FROM the "Assessment" she hangs up. The whole time she is very rude. Speaks with so much attitude I thought she was ready to get physical over the phone! Like what!? You are a worker! This is a place of Employment. "Professionalism" is seriously lacking at this poorly ran Facility. And this is my 3rd encounter. I can imagine the care the children receive. I am starting to think they are in it for the insurance money only. Not interested in providing our children with the proper care they require.So. I call back, I need to know her name! She answers. I ask, "Are you the person I was just speaking to?" Her, "Yes!" Me: "Okay, who is your supervisor?" "Crystal Esperanza, I can transfer you to her" Me: "No need, I just need her number... And...." *TRANSFER*This. Female. I just need my diagnosis for my daughter! I called "Crystal Esperanza" after leaving "Erin Soki" a message advising I did not appreciate her rude manners, I needed the diagnosis for my daughter, if she was incapable of being nice and professional do not call me back.Parents. We are going through a lot with our children. We do not deserve Service like this. They are very Unprofessional. I will be damned if any person or facility treats me this way. Let alone be able to provide care for my child who cannot advocate for herself. Imagine how they treat our children when we leave them in their care. ? No. Thanks.Staff who work directly with the children. Hats off to ya! The people you have to deal with that sign them paychecks or you have to see...
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Other Forms of Payment
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Inpatient Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
12-Step 12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
Aftercare Support Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Treatments
The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.
Each drug rehab in New Mexico offers unique amenities and treatment methods. Common aspects of treatment include group and individual counseling, recreational therapy, medication management, and healthy living. Aftercare is often provided to prevent relapse.
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.
Programs
Military Program
Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Clinical Services
Animal therapy (aka pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy) can be very healing, as it allows patients to bond with animals, who give unconditional love. This is particularly useful for those who suffered trauma by the hands of people, who may be able to trust and form closer attachments to animals than humans at certain stages of rehabilitation.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Equine therapy, aka equine-assisted therapy (EAT), is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions and activities with horses. It does not necessarily involve riding horses, but all activities related to horses, such as feeding, grooming, haltering and leading them. A mental health professional frequently oversees the activities (often in conjunction with a horse professional), and helps patients process their thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns during and/or after the interaction.
EMDR is a therapeutic modality originally developed to help process trauma. In an EMDR session, a patient is prompted to undergo eye movements that mimic those of REM sleep. This is accomplished by watching a therapist's finger move back and forth across, or following a bar of light. The goal is repetitive sets of eye movements that help the brain reprocess memory, which can significantly reduce the intensity of remembered traumatic incidents. Associated memories can heal simultaneously, leaving patients significantly calmer, more stable, and more emotionally relaxed.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Amenities
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Private Setting
Accreditations
The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 1798
Contact Information
(505) 715-6808 
5310 Sequoia Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Get Help Now - 505-644-0154
Who Answers?
Who Answers?
Fact checked and written by:
Kerry Nenn, BSW
Edited by:
Terri Beth Miller, PhD
