Pacific Bay Recovery

Pacific Bay Recovery in San Diego.
Please read!!! This may save someone’s life!!!
I can not begin to describe how disappointed I was with this place. My son has been battling with addiction for quite some time. We were desperate to get him some help. Him being a very young adult, you can imagine how happy we were when he finally agreed to go to rehab. He was even excited about getting help and changing his life.
His father and I have not always seen eye to eye on a lot of things, but one thing we’ve ALWAYS agreed on is our strong feelings against pharmaceuticals. We do not believe that in pumping someone full of drugs to get them off drugs. We raised our son this way also. Yes, I know him abusing drugs is being hypocritical, but we would not waiver on this and nor would my son.
My first question when I called in this place was… Do you put your patients on medication at this facility. I was told NO. Sometimes we give them something to ease the pain of withdrawal, but that’s up to them. After about a week of questions and research we packed up his things and were on our way. We were there for 8 hours doing intake, seeing the «doctor» getting EKG, blood work, and all. Which by the way was all either interns or students doing this. I ASKED EVERY SINGLE PERSON I CAME IN CONTACT WITH WHAT THEIR POLICY WAS ON MEDICATION. (I felt so strong about this because everyone I had seen so far that was a patient looked completely out of it. One kid didn’t even know the name of the program he was in and he had been there a month). I was given the same answer, Not everyone, only if they need it, etc. etc. It wasn’t until we had gone through all the tests, and intake 8 hours later that the doctor finally spoke with me and these were his exact words to me.
I do not negotiate. If you are not going to do things my way you can take your son and leave now. I will put your son on Lithium and several other medications. This is not an option IT IS MANDATORY!
Since I was so desperate to get help for my son, I tried to convince him that he should try it because he is already putting drugs into his system. Then we got to the detox and I was shocked. The poor people there literally looked like zombies. Some couldn’t walk, some were drooling on themselves, and ALL looked like they didn’t even know where they were. Now at this point I was so exhausted and confused and to be honest I think a little brainwashed that I still thought maybe my son should stay. But after we left and I was on the way home (3 hour drive) something came over me and I just thanked GOD that I didn’t leave my son there.
He slept all the way home and my son’s words just kept going through my mind over and over again…
MOM PLEASE DONT LEAVE ME HERE. I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME HERE.
I hope this help someone. This was by far the scariest and most disappointing thing that has happened to me in a very long time.

This program gave me a second chance at life, I had many back surgeries and was on such a huge amount of medications and all doctor wanted to do was give me more where pacific bay thought outside the box to treat my pain and I’m back to living my life and doing the things that doctors said I would never be able to do again!

Dr. Duffy and staff are wonderful! Not only did he help save our marriage, he saved my husband’s life! I’ll be forever grateful to Dr. Duffy and everyone that works at Pacific Bay Recovery! Beautiful facility with lots of activities and groups for the patients. Love the fact that even after completing the program, the door is always open and we are welcome back to drop in and attend a support group, exercise, or meet with fellow patients, their families and alumni.