Cardiff by the Sea, CA

Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre

Founded

1992

Program Length

6 days

Focus

This center primarily treats substance use disorders, helping you stabilize, create relapse-prevention plans, and connect to compassionate support.

AARC helps teens and young adults (ages 12–21) with moderate to severe drug or alcohol addiction using a long-term, semi-residential, 12-step approach. Founded in 1992, AARC is a research-backed program where clients live in “recovery homes,” attend group and individual therapy, and receive support from clinical staff, peer counsellors, and their families. Treatment emphasizes full abstinence, nutritional and physical wellness, and a strong family-focused recovery process. Treatment begins with a family and teen pre-assessment, followed by evaluations to see if AARC is right. Teens then progress through four levels: Levels 1–2 are primary recovery, Level 3 is the middle phase, and Level 4 is advanced recovery. This whole journey usually takes 8–12 months, most often about 10, with research showing a 73% sobriety success rate 12 months post treatment. At Level 1, clients live in recovery homes—private homes of experienced families—while attending treatment 6 days a week, including family sessions. At Level 2, they return home while continuing daily treatment and mentoring newcomers. Level 3 includes school or work with therapy on evenings or Saturdays. By Level 4, clients resume full school or work schedules, help newcomers, and plan for sober living after graduation. AARC ensures treatment is accessible, and no family is denied due to financial barriers. After a confidential pre-assessment, each family’s daily fee is set according to ability to pay, with most receiving subsidies through donations, grants, and fundraisers. Though the real daily cost is higher, families pay only an affordable rate while benefiting from AARC’s entire family treatment model and lifelong community of support.

Services

Key offerings grouped by category

Type of Care

Substance use treatment Detoxification

Service Setting (e.g., Outpatient, Residential, Inpatient, etc.)

Outpatient Outpatient detoxification Outpatient day treatment or partial hospitalization Intensive outpatient treatment Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment Regular outpatient treatment

Opioid Medications used in Treatment

Buprenorphine used in Treatment Naltrexone used in Treatment

External Opioid Medications Source

In-network prescribing entity No formal relationship with prescribing entity

Type of Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

Accepts clients using medication assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder but prescribed elsewhere This facility administers/prescribes medication for alcohol use disorder

External Source of Medications Used for Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

In-network prescribing entity No formal relationship with prescribing entity

Type of Opioid Treatment

Buprenorphine detoxification Buprenorphine maintenance Prescribes buprenorphine Prescribes naltrexone Relapse prevention with naltrexone Accepts clients using MAT but prescribed elsewhere Maintenance service with medically supervised withdrawal after stabilization

Pharmacotherapies

Acamprosate (Campral®) Disulfiram Buprenorphine with naloxone Buprenorphine without naloxone Buprenorphine (extended-release, injectable) Naltrexone (oral) Naltrexone (extended-release, injectable) Medication for mental disorders Non-nicotine smoking/tobacco cessation

Treatment Approaches

Anger management Brief intervention Cognitive behavioral therapy Contingency management/motivational incentives Motivational interviewing Relapse prevention Substance use disorder counseling Telemedicine/telehealth therapy Trauma-related counseling 12-step facilitation

Facility Operation (e.g., Private, Public)

Private for-profit organization

License/Certification/Accreditation

State department of health The Joint Commission

Payment/Insurance/Funding Accepted

Medicare Medicaid Private health insurance Cash or self-payment State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid

Special Programs/Groups Offered

Adolescents Young adults Adult women Pregnant/postpartum women Adult men Veterans Active duty military Criminal justice (other than DUI/DWI)/Forensic clients Clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders Clients who have experienced sexual abuse Clients who have experienced intimate partner violence, domestic violence Clients who have experienced trauma

Assessment/Pre-treatment

Comprehensive substance use assessment Interim services for clients Outreach to persons in the community Screening for tobacco use Screening for substance use Screening for mental disorders

Transitional Services

Aftercare/continuing care Discharge Planning Naloxone and overdose education Outcome follow-up after discharge

Recovery Support Services

Housing services Assistance with obtaining social services Recovery coach Mentoring/peer support Employment counseling or training

Detoxification (medical withdrawal) Services

Cocaine Detoxification Methamphetamines detoxification Opioids detoxification Medication routinely used during detoxification

Education and Counseling Services

Health education services other than HIV/AIDS or hepatitis Substance use disorder education Smoking/vaping/tobacco cessation counseling Individual counseling Group counseling Family counseling Marital/couples counseling Vocational training or educational support (for example, high school coursework, GED preparation, etc.)

Facility Smoking Policy

Smoking not permitted

Age Groups Accepted

Children/Adolescents Adults

Sex Accepted

Female Male

Language Services

Sign language services for the deaf and hard of hearing Spanish

Facility Vaping Policy

Vaping not permitted

Ancillary Services

Case management service Mental health services Social skills development Transportation assistance

Contact Information

Address

Cardiff by the Sea, CA, 92007

Phone

(403) 800-7681

Contact

Call