Now that you’ve decided to begin treatment at the IAFF Center of Excellence, it’s time to prepare for your stay. Knowing what to bring, what to leave behind and how to reach our Maryland facility sets the stage for your lifelong recovery. 

What to Bring

Documentation

This guide ensures you have everything you need while you’re with us, so you can focus on what’s really important — healing. We recommend that new residents pack the following items:

• • Picture ID: State/Government valid ID/Driver’s License/Passport

• • Necessary travel documentation

• • Relevant medical records/list of providers with contact information

• • A physical list of family members and their contact information

• • A form of payment (cash, credit card)**

• • Your insurance and pharmacy card

Electronics

• • Music: MP3, 1st Generation Ipod, Ear Buds/headphones (No Wifi Capability)

• • Non-smart watch

• • Flashlight or reading light for evenings

Clothing

• • 7 days of season-appropriate approved clothing

• • sweater or jacket for indoors and outdoors

• • long pants, shorts, and socks

• • ladies’ proper undergarments

• • men’s proper undergarments

• • tennis shoes (only covered shoes)

• • comfortable & discrete work-out wear and shoes

• • comfortable sleepwear

• • One piece swimsuit for ladies

• • Knee-length board shorts for men

• • A hat if desired

Medications & Prescriptions*

• • CPAPs if prescribed or over-the-counter nasal breathing strips for snoring (failure to do so will disrupt your treatment and other patients’ treatment experience)

• • prescribed non-narcotic, non-controlled medications from home: if you have filled your medications within the previous 30-90 days, bring them with you in the original pharmacy container. Insurance may not authorize early refills. 

• • diabetes medications and supplies like insulin (if dependent, bring a 60 day supply), test strips, blood sugar supplies, pumps or other devices/monitors (Failure to bring needed insulin supplies will make you ineligible for admission; phones are not allowed, so monitoring must occur on a separate device, especially for continuous glucose monitoring.)

• • any necessary medical devices, like CPAPs, canes, oxygen tanks or insulin pumps/monitors

Personal Care

All personal care items must be sealed, unopened in original packaging (optional, as facility supplies are available)

• • hairbrush

• • alcohol-free mouthwash

• • toothbrush, unopened toothpaste

• • unopened deodorant

• • unopened shampoo and conditioner *alcohol free

• • unopened sunscreen

• • unopened face wash and moisturizer

• • unopened lotion

• • unopened lip balm

• • unopened feminine products

• • contact lens solution *alcohol free

• • disposable razors

• • unopened bug lotion or wipes (no canisters)

Tobacco

• • unopened tobacco products. Please bring enough for the entirety of your stay.

• cigarettes carton, cigar carton, nicotine pouches or disposable, single use vapes
• Vapes cannot be refillable; they must be single-use cartridges, no THC, no caffeine. Raz or Geekbar vapes are the only brands accepted at the facility. If clients bring a vape with them, it needs to be brand new, non-refillable, and still sealed in the original packaging. Nicotine pouches must be without caffeine or energy ingredients.

Personal Comfort

• • positive reading material

• • pictures of family and friends

• • hobby musical instruments, if desired (travel-size)

In addition, clients are requested to bring a personal writing journal of their choice to use in conjunction with their therapy sessions.

*Please note: Electrical items (e.g., hairdryer, curling iron, electric shavers) are allowed, but will be checked for safety.

*All medication regimens are reviewed by the IAFF Center of Excellence’s medical doctor upon admission. If a client already takes medication for a psychiatric or non-psychiatric condition, please note that there may be changes to your medication regimen.

**To be monitored and retained by staff.

What Not to Bring

Rehabilitation is an opportunity to distance yourself from the people, places and ways of thinking that contribute to drug or alcohol use. Because your focus is on recovery, we prohibit patients from bringing certain items to the IAFF Center of Excellence to help them focus on recovery. Items NOT permitted at our facility include:

• • Drugs, alcohol or controlled substances

• • Prescribed narcotic or controlled substances, including medicinal/licensed marijuana, Adderall, Vyvanse, Conserta, and other prescription stimulants will be destroyed upon admission and will not be returned to the patient. If a stimulant is deemed clinically appropriate, a new prescription may be provided.

• • Weapons or any associated paraphernalia are not allowed on campus or left in vehicles, these will be handed over to authorities. This includes:
    • • Firearms, including BB guns and airsoft guns
    • • Knives or pocket knives
    • • Brass knuckles
    • • Explosives
    • • Any other type of item considered a weapon

• • Drug or alcohol paraphernalia

• • No CBD oils

• • Illegal substances or mood-altering drugs (including over-the-counter products that may alter mood)

• • Food of any kind (including candy, protein powders, bars or over-the-counter supplements*)

• • Internet devices (including laptops, computers, tablets and smart watches)

• • Clothing depicting drugs, drug paraphernalia, explicit language and/or images

• • Inappropriate, overly revealing clothing like short shorts and tank tops

• • Cameras or handheld video or tape recorders

• • Products containing alcohol (e.g., mouthwash, hand sanitizer, nail polish remover, etc.)

• • Aerosol products (including hairspray and spray deodorant)

• • Dental floss (dental floss will be provided)

• • Opened toiletry products (including lotion and shampoos)

• • Opened packs of cigarettes

• • Opened pill or vitamin bottles

• • Pornographic material

• • Card decks, games and sporting equipment

*Supplements policy: Patients are not allowed to bring their own supplements, protein powders or protein pills. Staff may purchase the following supplements on behalf of patients after arrival: vitamin D, fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin B, multivitamins, n-acetyl cysteine, CoQ10, folic acid and thiamine.

If patients wish to request another supplement, they must be evaluated by medical team first and approval is on case-by-case basis. For nutrition or supplemental needs recommended by your physician, provide the doctor’s name and contact information so staff can speak with them directly.

Travel Details 

During the admissions process, all necessary travel accommodations are booked and confirmed by you or your loved ones. You are free to come to the facility via car, or you can arrange travel here via airplane, train or bus. Wherever you’re coming from, our staff will provide transportation from all local train stations, bus stations and airports.

Expectations after Arrival 

Within the first 24 hours after your arrival, you can expect:

Mandatory Searches

To ensure the safety and sobriety of both new and current patients, each resident must consent to a search of both their person and belongings upon arrival. During this search, staff members will collect any items not permitted during treatment and store them in a safe and secure place to be returned when your stay is complete. Additional random searches may be conducted during your stay.

Screening Process

Upon arrival, you will undergo a nursing intake. This will include an EKG, PPD placement, and blood collection for admission labs. You’ll be asked about your substance use, psychiatric history and social and legal history. We will also discuss insurance coverage at this time.

A pre-admission acceptance is a preliminary determination that indicates you are appropriate for admission to our facility. Based on your presentation upon arrival or during your stay, it may be determined that a different facility may be more appropriate.

Medications

All medications will be handed over to the nursing department at the time of admission. Medications must be approved by the IAFF COE providers and will be administered at med pass times or on an as needed basis by the nursing staff. Prescription medications from your home pharmacy are only for use until our pharmacy provides the sealed blister pack. Bring with you a five day supply of your prescription medications. The pills must be in a prescription bottle with all original labeling from the pharmacy. Opened over the counter medications or supplements are not permitted. Prescription bottles with pills other than what is on the label are not permitted. Each pill and quantity will be verified by the nurse for safety.

Stimulants: Prescribed narcotic or controlled substances, including medicinal/licensed marijuana, Adderall, Vyvanse, Conserta, and other prescription stimulants will be destroyed upon admission and will not be returned to the patient. If a stimulant is deemed clinically appropriate, a new prescription may be provided.

Medical Exam

Your health is our first priority when you arrive. You will undergo a medical exam and discuss your goals for treatment soon after you get to the IAFF Center of Excellence.

Cell Phone Use 

To ensure your continued recovery, cell phone use will be limited during your stay. After a 72-hour phone-free period at the start of your admission, you will be allowed use of your cell phone five times per week for 1 hour during non-programming hours, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When not in use, your cell phone will be turned off and secured. There are also landlines that can be used during non-programming hours in each of the living areas.

All smart watches (regardless of brand or capability) will not be allowed while admitted to the IAFF Center of Excellence. All smart watches will be stored and secured in our personal property room until discharge. Watches that are mechanical or digital that just keep time, set alarms, etc. will be allowed. Members may also receive a normal watch on loan during their stay if needed.

The Facility 

Located just outside Washington, D.C., in the forest hills of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, our 15-acre facility is designed just for IAFF members, with a basketball court, gym and comfortable residential areas with 64 beds. Our facility was designed with the firehouse in mind to make treatment as comfortable as possible. You’ll find familiar touches throughout the common areas and residences

The IAFF Center of Excellence is an ideal place for fire fighters to take steps toward recovery. The gorgeous Maryland landscape, combined with our amenities designed just for fire fighters, sets the stage for your healing, self-discovery and acceptance.

Amenities and Therapies

Our amenities are part of what makes the IAFF Center of Excellence so unique. Amenities and activities that are offered include*:

• • Exercise gym

• • Swimming pool (seasonal Memorial Day through Labor Day)

• • Basketball court

• • Volleyball court

• • Pickleball

• • Walking trails

• • Rec room with foosball and TV with NFL Sunday Ticket

• • Video games, arcade games

• • Fire pit

• • Cornhole

• • Hammocks

• • Art and music activities

• • Outdoor reading and reflection areas

• • Yoga supplies

• • Equine therapy

• • EMDR therapy

• • Offsite visits

• • Access to religious needs

• • AA and NA meetings

• • Laundry facility and basic housekeeping (clients are responsible for cleanliness of their personal space)

*Activities may change from time to time or from season to season.  Access to these amenities varies depending on situational medical recommendations and level of care.

Food

Each day, in-house staff members plan, prepare and serve three nutritious meals for all residents. Typically, you will have a few different meals to choose from for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with vegetarian and vegan options available. Two snacks a day are also provided. If you have any food allergies, please let us know prior to your arrival so we can appropriately accommodate you.

Meals are to be eaten in the Kitchen, as is customary in the local Firehouses. If clients are in the Medical building and are non-ambulatory, meals will be provided in that unit only. Weekly grocery run for approved meals and snacks when available.

Sleeping Arrangements 

Rooms at The IAFF Center of Excellence provide a comfortable place to rest during your recovery. Four to five patients typically occupy each room. Each of these rooms includes one shared bathroom. The number of residents in each room may vary depending on your individual treatment stage and care needs.

A Day in the Life 

Your days at the IAFF Center of Excellence will be spent learning to live a life of improved behavioral health, whether it be through recovering from substance use disorder or treating PTSD or other mental health conditions. You’ll find new hobbies, make lasting connections with other fire fighters and rediscover your own personal interests.

As you move through the different levels of care, your daily life will change as you gain new insight and advance through treatment. Depending on the level of care, your day may include group and individual therapy sessions, recreational activities and more.

Types of Therapy 

During your stay, you’ll participate in a variety of personalized therapy sessions and support groups. These sessions are designed to help you conquer addiction by recognizing and overcoming triggers, personal scars and past struggles. Your treatment may include:

• • Cognitive behavioral therapy

• • Dialectical behavioral therapy skills group

• • EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy

• • 12-Step and Back to Basics Support groups

• • Individual counseling

• • Group Therapy

• • Cognitive Processing Therapy

• • Grief counseling

• • Sex addiction counseling

• • Stellate ganglion block

• • FLOAT/REST Therapy

Family/Support Visits and Outreach 

During treatment, it’s important to reconcile with yourself and your family. While some people do better with long-distance family treatment, others may prefer to have visits from parents, spouses or other family members/supports. Because connecting with your past is vital, talk sessions are held once a week with family members, usually by phone. Additional family visits may be granted when deemed clinically appropriate, and clients can decline family contact if they wish.

Off-Site Visits 

While your treatment will take place at the IAFF Center of Excellence, there may be off-site opportunities available. Off-site visits are generally available to clients in partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient levels of care. Examples include equine therapy, local attractions and accommodations for various religious needs. With a range of recreation options, including a gym, basketball, volleyball, rec room and more available on-site, there are plenty of activities available to aid in your recovery.

Smoking Policy

The IAFF Center of Excellence allows residents to take periodic smoke breaks. Keep in mind that patients must smoke in designated areas. The timing and frequency of these breaks will be determined based on situational medical recommendations. If you smoke, you will need to bring enough unopened cigarettes or tobacco products for the anticipated length of your stay. All smoking products must be new in sealed, original containers.

Raz or Geekbar vapes are the only brands accepted at the facility. Vapes cannot be refillable; they must be single-use cartridges, no THC, no caffeine. If clients bring a vape with them, it needs to be brand new, non-refillable, and still sealed in the original package. Approved vape products will be available for purchase once per week. 

Nicotine pouches must be without caffeine or energy ingredients. Pipes are not allowed, but cigars are allowed.

Smoking cessation products may be offered during your treatment.

Please note: patients under the age of 21 will not have the opportunity to purchase tobacco products, vaporizers or e-cigarettes during their stay. Our staff is not able to provide or purchase tobacco products, vaporizers or e-cigarettes for patients under the age of 21.

Visitors and Packages

With clinician approval in advance, family members or friends (adults & children 16+ if accompanied by an adult) are welcome to attend the facility at PHP/IOP levels only.

All mail and packages received are searched for contraband. Food, supplements or anything ingestible should not be shipped and will be confiscated.

The Treatment Process 

The IAFF Center of Excellence consists of two treatment programs: the substance abuse program and the mental health program. The substance abuse program is designed to provide treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders (a substance use disorder and another behavioral health disorder, such as PTSD). The mental health program is intended for individuals seeking treatment for behavioral health disorders other than substance use disorders.

There are a number of levels of care within the substance abuse program, ranging from clinically managed residential detox and residential treatment to partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care. The treatment programs that you participate in will depend on your own personal needs. Care often starts with detox, an intensive process that typically takes between five and seven days. From there, you’ll either transition to residential care, partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient care. During and after treatment, staff members will work with you to formulate an effective aftercare plan for when you return home.

The entire treatment process varies in length, but often lasts between 30 and 45 days. After treatment, you’ll return home equipped with the tools and resources you need to continue your recovery at home, work and everywhere in between. Your treatment may include:

• • Clinically managed detox

• • Inpatient residential

• • Partial hospitalization

• • Intensive outpatient

• • Aftercare

Medically Assisted Treatment 

Depending on what substance is being misused, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous and even life-threatening. That’s why the IAFF Center of Excellence provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines behavioral therapy and medication to treat substance use disorders. This combination can also be used to treat co-occurring disorders.

Our regulated clinically managed detox plan and 24-hour care services are available for those in residential treatment. Individualized clinical care and tapering ensures that you have a healthy and comfortable transition. Before leaving the center, our staff will provide you with a list of local resources and clinics for continuing care as you start your substance-free life.

Alumni Aftercare 

During your treatment, you’ll become part of a dynamic recovery family, but that camaraderie doesn’t end when you leave the IAFF Center of Excellence. Our alumni aftercare program keeps you in contact with an IAFF Center of Excellence research assistant for 18 months after treatment.

Insurance and Your Obligation During Treatment 

Many health insurance plans require that you pay out-of-pocket expenses prior to accessing your healthcare benefits. These “patient responsibility” expenses may include deductibles, co-pays, a coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket expenses. Each patient’s individual responsibility varies, depending on a number of factors, including:

• • Your individual benefits plan

• • Length of stay at center

• • Type of services received during treatment

• • Other services offered at center, but not covered by your insurance provider (lab tests, non-covered prescriptions, etc.)

• • Reasonable boarding fees (should you decide to stay with the facility for treatment at outpatient levels of care)

Our financial counselor will review these fees with you within 72 hours of admission, or as soon as you’re medically stable. The deductible is due upon admittance to our center. 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.

Keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to check with your insurance provider prior to be admitted at the IAFF Center of Excellence to understand your individual benefits plan. Please also note that your insurance plan may not be a “participating provider” with the IAFF Center of Excellence. You are responsible for all non-covered and out-of-pocket costs related to your treatment during your stay.

Important Notice Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We are closely monitoring all developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of all patients, employees and the communities we serve. 

Please note the following updates:  

Ongoing Monitoring & Response Policy:

ARS facilities are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and we have strong infection control policies, procedures and systems in place. Patients are encouraged to report to nursing at the onset of any new symptoms to be tested.

Patients with a positive COVID-19 or rapid flu test and who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms may be quarantined and treated for five days within the facility. Patients with severe COVID-19 or flu symptoms may be discharged to a higher level of care to get the help they need.

Visitation Policy:

For the safety of all patients, family members, visitors and staff, visitors may only enter an ARS facility during designated visitation times. A patient’s treatment team must approve any visitor. Patients in the medical detox or inpatient programs do not have in-person visitors to allow them to focus on their recovery.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions or further concerns about any of our policy updates, please check back frequently, or you can reach out directly by calling 855-387-3291.