FAQs
AMRS Frequently Asked Questions
What is AMRS?
Addiction Medicine & Recovery Services (AMRS) at Oakland Medical Center is a comprehensive service for the chemically dependent adult or teen, and his/her adult family members. Different levels of care, or treatment intensity, are offered based on the Kaiser member’s needs. This care program is determined together by the therapist and patient.
How do I make an appointment for the program?
Call AMRS:
510-251-0121
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Who talks with me first at AMRS?
If you telephone the AMRS, a receptionist will answer your call and respond to your questions. If desired, he/she will set up a screening appointment for you. If you walk into the AMRS without an appointment, or when you come in for your first appointment, the receptionist will request that you complete some intake forms before seeing a therapist.
What can I expect during my first face-to-face appointment with a therapist?
After you complete a small packet of forms, you will meet with a therapist who will discuss with you why you are here and ask you some questions about your alcohol and/or drug use, medical problems related to use of alcohol and drugs, and your personal needs at this point. The therapist will describe in detail the different AMRS programs and you will have an opportunity to ask all the questions you need to determine which program is best suited to your needs. If you decide to start the program, the therapist will schedule all of your appointments for you.
Are detox services available?
Many people need a medically supervised detoxification program depending on the type of substances that were being used. If needed, your counselor will coordinate a detox appointment with one of the specialists on our medical team which is located on our premises.
Will I have an individual therapist?
If you decide to participate in the program, an in-depth individual evaluation will be scheduled and a full treatment plan will be developed. At that time a primary case manager will be assigned to you.
Will my friends or coworkers find out about what I say in these groups?
What you tell the therapists or staff at AMRS is confidential, as regulated by state and federal law. No one needs to know you are attending recovery groups or know what you say in these groups or individual sessions. There are some exceptions to this policy which will be discussed at your intake appointment.
What program options are available at AMRS?
AMRS offers three different levels of treatment: an Early Recovery Program, Day Treatment Program and Continuing Recovery Program (described below).
What is the Early Recovery Program?
The Early Recovery Program is an eight-week program, which consists of evening or day groups. The time commitment is from one hour to one hour and ten minutes per day. Patients attend a variety of educational and recovery groups as well as individual sessions. The meetings are Monday through Friday (mornings or evenings depending on what best fits your schedule). Make up meetings are available on Saturday morning. All of our groups, are lead by experienced professional therapists.
What is the Day Treatment Program?
For individuals who require highly structured treatment, but do not require hospitalization, an intermediate level of chemical dependency recovery care is available. Treatment includes about 21 days of highly structured group and individual sessions, scheduled during weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
What is Continuing Recovery?
The Continuing Recovery Program offers supportive groups after the two month Early Recovery Program concludes. Continuing Recovery is an important component of AMRS. The initial group commitment is for 5 months, and many patients decide to stay in the group longer. The Continuing Recovery level of care consists of a minimum of one group per week, but many patients choose to come more often.
What if I do not feel ready to be abstinent?
Arrange a screening and confidentially discuss your concerns with one of our counselors. Many of our patients decide to try abstinence for a trial basis in order to take a break from using and encourage their bodies to heal. We can help you make a decision that feels right for you.
How does your program work if my employer referred me here?
We will only contact your supervisor or EAP counselor if you sign a release form (available AMRS). Your AMRS case manager will then inform your employer, in general terms, of your attendance and progress.
What happens if I drink or use drugs during my treatment program?
True recovery from alcohol and drug dependency requires that clients develop a commitment to abstinence — becoming totally free of dependency-producing substances. We provide a safe environment where you will learn to live comfortably without using chemicals. We encourage and expect that you will notify your therapist immediately if you have a relapse on drugs or alcohol. We will support you in returning to treatment as soon as possible, and we will work with you to identify what precipitated your relapse. Our goal is to help you to build skills to prevent future relapses. The focus of the recovery program is on relapse prevention, which is major theme in the early recovery groups.
If I come to AMRS do I have to go to AA?
Attendance at AA and/or other community support programs is an important part of recovery. We strongly encourage and support participation at 12-step and other self help programs. Outside recovery meetings are a mandatory requirement of every level of our treatment program. In addition to the traditional 12-step programs like AA and NA, we also encourage our patients to investigate secular meetings such as Life Ring. Learn more about self-help programs.