Bear River Health — Attraction in Boyne Valley Township

This place was an unhinged nightmare. I went to detox there and on the first night I was sitting on the bed in a 4x8 cubicle and noticed that fruit flys were everywhere. I slightly checked around, as one does, my side table was empty, unlike another cliants experience where he found a moldy half eaten bagel. I brushed it off and moved on. It wasn't until we had a bed bug scare and we were asked to strip our beds that I found green sludge on the sheets and down the wall. I moved the bed from the corner to reveal a huge pile of vomit. The fact that I found the puke on my sheets is evidence of beds not being changed in between clients. Once transferred to residential, at the central campus, my experience did not improve. The "remodeled" showers were ungrouted leaving it a feeding ground for bacteria. The orange juice, apple juice, and WATER dispenser where all broken throughout my entire stay leaving the cliants to drink from the sink which, would have been ok with me if it weren't for the fact that it only came out steeming hot. Instead of fixing it they pumped everyone full of highly caffinated coffee and decaffeinated was not an option. The paint on the walls were cracked and chiped leaving exposed cinder blocks. (This is a rehabilitation center mind you.) The art on the walls were sporadically placed and held up with scotch tape. The beat up lockers from 1987 left the ambiance stale, cold and uninviting. What should have been a place of peace and healing was a hindrance to my mental health. Showering in the morning, I was shocked to see the drain backing up with grey water. On that day the restrooms were out of order as well. We were allowed up to urinate in the employee restroom, if it was an emergency, other than that they walked us 1/4 miles to a park (next to a liquor store) to releave ourselves. The groups were either held by unqualified office technicians, other cliants or our group counselors. Mine was a younger woman who once said, "yeah these are my party shoes they used to have puke stains on them." and I was supposed go to that person for guidance and advice? I don't know about that but, I do know, for a fact, that at least one of the employees uses a Marijuana pen while he's working. Again THIS IS A REHABILITATION CENTER. The communication in that place was nonexistent. Back in detox they lost my laundry during the bed bug scare. The computer stated that my medications were delivered on day one yet, they couldn't find them until night four. leaving me with copious amounts of anxiety in one of the most stressful, chaotic, ill managed and toxic environment I've ever been in. On multiple occasions I would be told one thing, another cliant would be told something else but then my counselor would say something different. They denied communication between myself and my emergency contact, even though they called numerous times over an emergency situation and didn't relay a single message to me. It got to the point where the police needed to do a wellness check on me. AT A TREATMENT FACILITY. Bear River was a "treatment center" that provided no literature on the AA or NA programs and just one old torn up copy if the 12 steps hung in the corner of a room. When i brought this to the attention of the director of the facility i was sharply told that he printed off 4 copies of the book but that they were probably already gone. 4 copies for 36 people to study and use. Shame on them for all of this but, particular that FACT. It was no surprise to see how much theft and shady behavior takes place seeing as how the building is virtually unsupervised. No cameras in the bedrooms, classrooms, lounge areas or dining hall and only one staff member in the detox center over night. We were told by a tech that if something were to happen to just bang on the detox door until someone answers. Bear River Health was the worst experiences I've ever willingly put myself through. That includes situations during active use. If this review saves even one person from going to this trash heap it was...

Bear river health has been known for a great place but once the techs left because of their manipulating director this place is now a surreal life drama soul popping disaster. The man has let it get to his head so bad that he welcomes people and forces you to sign a consent letting you know you will be admitted on punishment and will admit you under those conditions, never the less you are discriminated depending on your background and origin and they put no shade on it. They let you know from the gate that you don’t belong or make you feel unwelcome. When punished you are allowed everything but your punishment consist of being rightfully denied to go to an outside church with them or an N.A. Meeting which contradicts the name bear river health has had for a while which is to help and better the person and not denying the necessary meetings and faith believe as a punishment. They have cameras in their convenient places but in my case a fight broke out between 2 people and instead of them doing the obvious which is take care of whatever issue there wasn’t they decided to kick me out bc they had reason to believe I was somehow involved when it was all a given fact of the other 2 individuals, I was the only half Latino in this place in which I was given 3 stories about the reason for my discharge, prior to this I went 14 days and 5 days at a time waiting for medical assistance to be reported by the director and it always takes till matters are really life and death for a person to even be sent to a hospital and if prescribed anything you will wait forever to get your prescriptions if not get them, I went 14 days going from group to group with them knowing I was having chest pains, bad stomach issues and gastrointestinal symptoms and they would not take it serious. The director will sit there and listen to you on any important matter and has no clue what your saying as he plays with his phone, he tells you that vapes are not allowed while smoking a vape contradicting the places rules alone. A person who will judge you from the moment you come in and tells you he is every guys personaly and knows how you are who you are and how much of an addict you are and how your mind is something he knows judging harshly and no matter how sick you are they are not losing money and your gonna attend class sick or not. Rules get made up all day as he goes with no structure but also lie to you and tell you that all these crazy decisions he makes are made by his boss not him as he presents him his own story version of a lot of things added to a very fictional existence. To be discriminated and violated against and than be denied treatment based on background is a very negative practice in behalf of bear river with a director who is not only ruining the name and quality this place was once is a real shame but I now would never recommended to anyone who does not want to go through a mental breaking situation rather than get himself better and...

I had reached rock bottom, addicted to meth and heroin. This program will pick u up from anywhere in Michigan. They are really out here saving lives. The teacher Flip taught me things I will use the rest of my life to stay clean. Lexi is an amazing clinician. I went thru 5 days in detox, the staff there was amazing as well. They checked my vitals before giving me meds ensure my safety. They managed to make withdrawal comfortable. Well as comfortable as it has ever been in my whole life anyways. I slept alot. The detox food was ok but the food in inpatient residential was well above average. Big meals, good cooks, and the kitchen is full of healthy choices and not so healthy foods that are basically available all day til bedtime. Something for everyone to enjoy in the kitchen cereal and milk, ramen, fruits, leftovers from the 3 meals they make each day, desserts are common. They provide after care too. I'm past 30 days clean from IV use of meth and heroin. I stopped counting. I changed my whole life in a month thanks to bear river. Shout out to Tiana in housing for getting me into bear rivers sober living house. It's beautiful here the girls I live with now didn't have to take me job hunting or to work, but they did and I have the best job I've ever had in my entire life now. The therapist thru bear river gave me a ride to after I got out of Inpatient, helped me get food and bus vouchers. Community up here is really supportive of my recovery. I'm a lifer now. Bear river has not only saved my life but it's now a part of me and I'm passionate about my new bear river family. I can never express how much gratitude I feel for the entire staff, the girls who got clean along side me and the owner. I don't know if Eric will read this, but Sir your generous contributributions to Bear river are making a difference. I will thank God for you often. I won't post your full name because I know you don't donate for recognition. I had to thank you though for being part of the amazing life changing movement at bear river. Not only do I have hope for my future I have confidence for the first time in my life that I am stronger than addiction. I talk with my mother everyday now and she is grateful u saved my life too. My heart is full of love for bear river health. Shout-out to Danielle too. And all the techs who run around making us ladies a priority. If u are thinking about rehab for the first time or if you've been to several treatment centers and none work, bear river could be want you need. I know it was just what I needed. Now that I've wrote a book ... Lol I'm gonna sleep good so I can get up for...