What to Expect at Promises Atlanta

Now that you’ve decided to begin treatment at Promises Atlanta, it’s time to prepare for your stay. Knowing what to bring, what to leave behind and what to expect at the facility can help you feel more comfortable and prepared as treatment begins.

What to Bring

Please bring no more than two suitcases due to limited storage. Pack comfortable, practical items that will support you throughout your stay.

Documentation

• Picture ID
• Insurance card
• Prescription or pharmacy benefits card

Financial Items

Avoid bringing large amounts of cash. Prepaid debit cards, such as prepaid Visa or American Express cards, are preferred. It may also be helpful to notify your financial institution that you will be away from home.

Medications and Medical Devices

Your care team will review your medications when you arrive. Bring:

• A complete list of all current medications, including supplements and over-the-counter medications
• All current prescription medications in their original, labeled prescription bottles
• A CPAP machine, if applicable

Bringing all current prescriptions with you can help prevent delays. Medications brought to the facility will be secured by the nursing department. The medications used during treatment will be determined by your physician and may not include everything you were taking before admission.

Clothing

Dress comfortably and pack approximately:

• Seven comfortable shirts, such as T-shirts
• Two sweatshirts, pullovers or sweaters
• Seven pairs of jeans, slacks or shorts
• Seven pairs of yoga pants or sweatpants
• Seven pairs of socks
• Seven to 10 pairs of underwear or undergarments
• Two sets of sleepwear or robes
• One or two pieces of season-appropriate outerwear
• Two pairs of comfortable shoes, including one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of slip-on shoes, sandals or slides
• One pair of shower shoes

Please leave sheer or revealing clothing, expensive jewelry and other valuable items at home.

Washers and dryers are available on the units, and basic laundry supplies are provided. Contact the facility before admission if you require a specialized detergent.

Personal Care Items

Keep toiletries and cosmetics to one bag when possible. All products should be alcohol-free and arrive unopened or sealed.

Recommended items include:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash or soap
• Deodorant
• Body lotion
• Hairbrush or comb
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Alcohol-free mouthwash
• Shaving razors
• Hair dryer, if desired
• Sanitary napkins or tampons, if applicable
• Cosmetics and other items used in your regular personal care routine

Items with cords and sharp grooming items, including razors and tweezers, will be kept in locked storage and signed out by staff when needed.

Do not bring glass containers, personal mirrors, mirrored compacts or products that list alcohol among the first five ingredients. Hair dye and hair-cutting tools are also not permitted.

Tobacco Products

Patients who smoke or vape may bring:

• Standard cigarettes in new, unopened original packaging
• Disposable, non-rechargeable vapes in new, unopened original packaging

Bring enough permitted products for your anticipated stay because the facility does not provide store runs. Family members or loved ones may send additional permitted products when needed.

Chewing tobacco, dip and nicotine pouches are not allowed.

Other Recommended Items

• A written list of phone numbers for people you may want to call
• Postage stamps, envelopes and mailing addresses
• Photographs of loved ones

Laundry and Linens

Laundry machines and basic detergent are available at the facility. Patients are responsible for completing their own laundry.

Linens, pillows and towels are provided. Do not bring personal linens or pillows.

What Not to Bring

For safety reasons, do not bring the following items.

Clothing and Footwear

• Clothing or pictures containing references to drugs, alcohol, pornography, political content, discriminatory content or other inappropriate material
• Sheer or revealing clothing
• High-heeled shoes or wedge heels higher than two inches

Staff may require closed-toe, flat shoes for certain activities.

Toiletries and Personal Care Products

• Hair dye or hair-cutting tools
• Nail polish or nail polish remover
• Aerosol products
• Products that list alcohol among the first five ingredients, including alcohol-based mouthwash and hand sanitizer
• Glass bottles or containers
• Personal mirrors
• Mirrored compacts
• Picture frames containing glass

Weapons and Fire Hazards

• Weapons of any kind, including pocketknives
• Candles
• Incense

Tobacco and Related Items

• Refillable or rechargeable vapes
• Vape pods
• Hand-rolled cigarettes
• Cigars
• Cigarette papers
• Refillable lighters
• Chewing tobacco or dip
• Nicotine pouches

Electronics

Do not bring:

• Computers or laptops
• Kindles or other e-readers
• Music players
• Radios

Personal cell phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices brought to the facility will be securely stored for the duration of treatment.

Food and Beverages

• Outside food or beverages of any kind
• Food sent in care packages, including candy and cookies

Medications

• Prescription medications that are not in their original, labeled prescription bottles
• Over-the-counter medications or substances that are not in sealed manufacturer packaging

Laundry and Bedding

• Laundry detergent, unless specialized arrangements have been made before admission
• Personal linens
• Personal pillows

Other Items

• Specialized workout equipment, including personal weights

Mail, Packages and Belongings

Friends and family may send patients letters, cards and approved care packages. Appropriate care package items may include:

• Coloring books
• Colored pencils
• Self-help books
• Positive messages
• Cards

Do not send food, candy, cookies or other edible items.

Mail and packages should be addressed as follows:

Promises Atlanta
C/O Patient Name
1200 Winder Hwy NE
Dacula, GA 30019

Patients cannot place Amazon orders during their stay. However, family members may send approved items or arrange for approved items to be shipped to the facility.

Family members and friends may also drop off necessary belongings, such as clothing or unopened permitted tobacco products, during designated times. Contact the facility in advance to confirm when drop-offs are accepted.

A staff member will receive the belongings upon arrival. Belongings drop-off does not include an opportunity to visit the patient.

Phone Use

Patients may use a facility landline daily during lunchtime and in the evenings. Landline access begins immediately after admission. Personal cell phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices will be securely stored for the duration of treatment.

The Facility

Promises Atlanta is located on a three-acre campus in Dacula, Georgia, approximately 10 minutes from Lawrenceville and about 40 minutes from Atlanta. The single-story building contains four units named after well-known Atlanta streets, each with its own private outdoor pavilion.

The facility’s layout is accessible for patients with mobility needs, although patients must be able to complete activities of daily living independently. Promises Atlanta serves adults in a mixed-gender setting, with sleeping rooms assigned by gender.

Amenities and Activities

Amenities and activities at Promises Atlanta include:

• Fitness areas with free weights, treadmills, ellipticals and other equipment for patients outside the detox level of care
• Pool tables
• Ping pong
• Board games
• Common areas with televisions
• Game nights
• Movie nights
• Karaoke nights
• Outdoor games
• Gardening
• Physical exercise groups
• Private outdoor pavilions
• Nutrition groups
• Group community service activities
• On-site laundry facilities

Available amenities and activities may depend on a patient’s level of care, clinical needs and the facility’s schedule.

Food

An on-site chef and kitchen staff prepare meals from a monthly menu. Patients staying on campus receive three meals each day. Meals are delivered to the individual programs or units and eaten family-style.

Each unit also has a kitchen area where patients can access snacks. Patients with dietary restrictions should notify clinical or dietary staff. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

Sleeping Arrangements

Promises Atlanta is a mixed-gender facility, but sleeping rooms are gender-specific. Most rooms accommodate two patients and have a shared bathroom. Some private rooms share a connecting bathroom with one other patient.

Rooms contain twin or twin XL beds. Standard bathrooms have standing showers, with no more than two patients sharing a restroom.

A Day in the Life

Daily schedules vary depending on each patient’s level of care and clinical needs. Treatment may include recovery-focused groups, psychoeducation, skills development, cognitive and behavioral therapies, nutrition groups and structured recovery programming.

Between scheduled treatment activities, patients may have opportunities to exercise, participate in indoor recreation, spend time outdoors or take part in organized activities such as gardening, game nights and community service.

Types of Therapy

Treatment and recovery programming available at Promises Atlanta may include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Trauma-informed care
• Skills-based treatment
• The Recognize, Regulate and Respond curriculum
• Psychoeducation
• Recovery skills development
• Family-centered treatment
• Nutrition groups
• 12-Step programming
• On-site and off-site recovery meetings
• General recovery groups
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for PHP patients when clinically recommended

EMDR is offered only at the PHP level and only when recommended by the clinical team.

Family and Support Visits

Approved loved ones may visit once per week with prior approval from the facility and clinical team. Visits take place during designated visitation times and are limited to facility common areas.

Visitors may not enter patient rooms, and overnight visitors are not permitted for patients staying in facility-provided boarding.

Off-Site Visits

Patients may participate in therapeutic outings, group community service outings and off-site AA or NA meetings. Off-site recovery meetings generally take place once per week.

PHP patients may be permitted to drive to outside appointments with clinical approval.

Smoking Policy

Promises Atlanta permits standard cigarettes and disposable vapes in designated outdoor smoking areas during designated times.

All cigarettes and vaping products must be:

• New and unopened
• In their original packaging
• Brought in sufficient quantities for the anticipated stay

Vapes must be disposable and cannot require charging. Refillable vapes, vape pods, hand-rolled cigarettes, cigars, cigarette papers and refillable lighters are not permitted.

Chewing tobacco, dip and nicotine pouches are also prohibited. The facility does not provide store runs, so patients should bring enough permitted products for their stay.

The Treatment Process

Treatment at Promises Atlanta is based on each patient’s clinical needs, progress and insurance coverage. Available substance use treatment services include:

• Medical detox on a case-by-case basis
• Residential substance use treatment
• Partial hospitalization with facility-provided boarding
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Aftercare planning

Patients may enter partial hospitalization directly or transition into it from another level of care. Residential treatment follows a four-week curriculum, although the exact length of treatment varies.

Medically Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, combines medication with counseling and behavioral support as part of a comprehensive approach to recovery. For some patients, MAT can help manage withdrawal symptoms or cravings and support continued participation in treatment.

Promises Atlanta offers MAT when clinically appropriate. Each patient is evaluated individually, and the treatment team determines whether medication-assisted treatment should be included in the patient’s care plan.

Alumni Program

At Promises Atlanta, we have an alumni program that provides our clients with the support and resources they need to continue in their recovery journey. Our alumni programs are tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. It will provide them with a sense of community to help them stay motivated in their recovery.

Our Staff

Promises Atlanta’s leadership team includes:

• Bill Anderson, Executive Director
• Amanda Salas, Medical Director
• Jewel Clarke, Director of Nursing
• ShaShauna Raposa, Clinical Director

Insurance and Your Obligation During Treatment

Many health insurance plans require out-of-pocket costs in order to access your healthcare benefits. These expenses may include Deductibles, Co-Pays, Coinsurance and Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expenses (collectively, the “Patient Responsibility”).

Your individual Patient Responsibility may vary based on a number of factors including:

• Your individual benefits plan
• Length of stay at the facility
• Type of services received during treatment
• Other services offered at the facility, but not covered by your insurance provider (such as lab tests, non-covered prescriptions, etc.)
• Reasonable boarding fees should you decide to stay with the facility for treatment at outpatient levels of care.

A staff member will review your Patient Responsibility with you at the time of admission or as soon as possible once you are medically stable. They will explain that the deductible is due upon admittance to the facility and the co-insurance amount and out-of-pocket balance will be billed and paid for after treatment once services are complete. On-site financial counselors will again review your financial responsibility during treatment with case managers who can help you navigate FMLA.

It is your responsibility to check with your insurance provider prior to being admitted at Promises Atlanta to understand your individual benefits plan. Please note that your insurance plan may not be a “participating provider” with Promises Atlanta. You are responsible for all non-covered and out-of-pocket costs related to your treatment stay.