Psychiatry & Behavioral Health

Addiction & Substance Use Rehabilitation

Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs can severely affect your health — causing organ failure, cancer, and a host of other medical conditions. Addiction to those substances is a chronic brain disease.

Substance use disorders are the clinical term for addiction to alcohol or drugs, which causes significant impairment. More than 20 million Americans have substance use disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

NewYork-Presbyterian offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs for those struggling with substance use disorders. Our multidisciplinary care team uses scientifically validated treatment approaches. Along with your family and support network, we work with you to develop the skills necessary to move beyond addiction.

Our Approach to Addiction & Recovery

Our rehabilitation services include daytime and evening outpatient programs as well as comprehensive inpatient programs. Our programs at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell University Medical Center, or NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center in White Plains, New York are licensed by The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as a Medically Supervised Ambulatory Substance Abuse Treatment Program.

• Smithers Center. The Smithers Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia provides substance use treatment to adults aged 18 and over with co-occurring mental health conditions. Our experts offer a combination of individual, group, and medical therapy tailored to unique needs. We also provide social supports to reward participants for non-use and to engage family members in the treatment process.
  For more information about the Smithers Center, please call 212-326-8441.
• STARS. The Substance Treatment and Research Service of Columbia University (STARS) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia provide free and confidential treatment of substance use through a clinical trial. Cutting-edge approaches to treating addiction to marijuana, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, or narcotic painkillers are available in a supportive and professional environment.
  For more information about STARS, please call 212-923-3031.
• Midtown Center. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell’s Midtown Center for Treatment and Research is a comprehensive not-for-profit outpatient program for the evaluation and treatment of chemically dependent individuals and their significant others.
  For more information about the Midtown Center, please call 212-764-5178.
• Inpatient Rehabilitation. NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center provides intensive inpatient rehabilitation treatment for alcohol and substance use, with or without additional psychiatric disorders. We create individualized treatment plans for each patient to promote abstinence and recovery.
  For more information about the inpatient rehabilitation program, please call 888-694-5700.
• Partial Hospitalization Program. NewYork-Presbyterian offers an Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, which provides comprehensive evaluation and intensive short-term treatment to adults (18 years of age and older) who can be treated outside of the inpatient setting during the regular business day, to avert or shorten an inpatient hospitalization.
  For more information about the adult partial hospitalization program, please call 212-746-3741.
• Continuing Day Treatment Program. Our Continuing Day Treatment Program provides a comprehensive evaluation for 6 to 12 months for adults ages 18-62 with severe psychiatric illnesses, including addiction. Using a model of wellness and recovery, we offer a structured, supportive environment to help you pursue your personal goals.
  For more information about the Continuing Day Treatment Program, please call 212-821-0883.

Advanced Clinical Care

Addiction is a disease. Repeated exposure to drugs and alcohol changes the way your brain functions. It’s normal to struggle with addiction issues long after recovery. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we provide personalized treatment that focuses on long-term strategies for reducing relapse and improving your quality of life.

Our team performs a comprehensive evaluation, which includes a physical, psychiatric, psychosocial, spiritual, and vocational assessment. Based on the information gathered during the assessment, we create a unique treatment plan, which may include:

• Individual, group, and family counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Motivational (“reward-based”) therapy
• Medication

We also offer specialized group counseling, which focuses on specific themes, such as education on addiction, motivational interviewing, medical consequences, relapse prevention, 12-step program, gender-specific issues, dual diagnosis, discharge planning, pharmacology, and health issues.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

About 8 million Americans living with substance use disorder has one or more co-existing psychiatric diseases, such as depression or anxiety. Having two illnesses at the same time —known as “comorbidity” — can make treating each disorder more difficult. The clinicians at NewYork-Presbyterian have particular expertise in the care of people with multiple illnesses, offering programs to address the substance use disorder as well as other mental health challenges.

Specialty Populations

Some populations may need specialized attention due to age or other circumstances. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we have expertise in treating a diverse patient population.

Older adults. Other existing medical conditions and psychiatric disorders can make treating a substance use problem in an elderly patient even more challenging. At NewYork-Presbyterian, our geriatric psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals with expertise caring for older patients offer experience and compassion. Using cognitive-based therapy, reward-based therapies, and other techniques, they target substance use along with any co-existing disorders to help our older patients achieve abstinence and recovery.

Specialized Treatment Unit

Patients can choose to rehabilitate at The Haven, a deluxe inpatient unit. Patients who come to The Haven for substance use treatment benefit from a comprehensive consultation, expert assessment, and discreet, compassionate care delivered by nationally recognized psychiatric specialists. Learn more about The Haven.

Appointments & Referrals

Our inpatient and outpatient programs are run by highly skilled psychiatrists and psychologists with sub-specialty training in areas ranging from addiction to sleep disorders. To learn more about our inpatient services or to be admitted for inpatient treatment, please call 888-694-5700. To learn more about our outpatient services or to find a psychiatrist, please call 877-NYP-WELL.

Please note, if this is an emergency, please dial 9-1-1 or visit your local emergency department. For free and confidential support from trained mental health professionals, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or NYC Well at 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355).