I would not send my biggest enemy to this dive. The nursing staff are substandard and not well trained in substance abuse. I know because I worked in mental health for 12 years and know a well trained nurse when I see one. These nurses were impossible to develop a relationship with, which is necessary during a 30 day stay, because they treat everyone exactly the same and expect the worst of each client. They told my husband I was not attending groups which was untrue, they recorded my intake weight wrong, 10 #'s under, which I noticed at the time but saw no reason to correct them. Unfortunately that mistake became important after I lost #12 in the first 2 weeks I was there from being ill and they wouldn't believe me because of the wrong weight they had. They accused me of drug seeking Imodium, for diahrrhea, as I was asking for it daily because I had non stop diahrrhea during my entire 30 day stay. Who drug seeks Imodium? When I arrived they took away my Clonazepam that I had taken for years with no problem. Stopping a benzodiazepine cold turkey can actually lead to death from severe withdrawal symptoms. I was so horribly anxious, had diahrrhea 24/7 and experienced insomnia the entire time I was there with no concern from them whatsoever. When I left they refused to return my Clonazepam and insisted I flush it. I refused. As I stated earlier I had been on this drug for years without any problems and was never informed they would be taking it as well as not then treating my withdrawal symptoms. It was the worst 30 days of my entire life. I was sent for a physical and my chart was laid face up on the counter for everyone to see with VALLEY HOPE stamped across the front. While I was there I asked the nurse to ask the Dr. if there was something he could suggest for my back pain besides the pain pills after having rods put into my back from my scapula to my tailbone. I don't know what she told him but when I got back the nurses at Valley Hope called my husband and told him I asked the Dr. for pain pills! This was untrue as well as ridiculous since that was the reason I was there in the first place. When you arrive they give you a couple days to get acclimated and because many of the clients are experiencing withdrawal symptoms which can be debilitating. Despite this they told my husband I was refusing to go to groups! Again, untrue. I was lied to, spoken to with disdain and outright rudeness and not treated for withdrawal symptoms from stopping my benzodiazepine abruptly. There is no psychiatrist available for clients. I could go on and on about the poor counselor I had, the ridiculous nursing staff, the physician office and the poor accommodations. You're roomed in old motel rooms and are forced to walk from the recreation room to your room to the lecture building, to the laundry in the freezing snowy Nebraska weather. I was there during a blizzard. There are no fitness facilities whatsoever so little to no outlet for stress. I despised every second I spent there while not sleeping, not eating, very sick with diarrhea, crying continuously and losing weight. During all of this I was treated like a second class citizen. Drug addiction is an illness not a crime. Someone should tell Valley Hope that. Don't send anyone you love there. 2 people that were there with me killed themselves shortly after discharge. That's how good they are.
