IAFF Center of Excellence

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Recovery Center in Marlboro, Maryland is a rehab center for fire fighters by fire fighters. The center is available to IAFF members. They are certified by The Joint Commission, LegitScript, SAMHSA, and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.

Treatments and Services for Firefighters

The center treats alcohol addiction, substance use, and mental illness with inpatient residential and outpatient services. Detoxification treatment is available for clients who need medical assistance for withdrawal. Outpatient services offered include partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient.

Substance use is treated with co-occurring mental health disorders. Therapy is offered individually, in groups, and with family. Although challenges and experiences are unique to each client, groups of clients who have had similar experiences can support each other in group therapy. It’s especially helpful that the treatment is designed around the challenges and needs that fire fighters face.

Other therapies used include cognitive processing therapy which gives the client healthier perspectives with reduced emotions linked to trauma through writing exercises and discussions. They also use cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Facility Amenities Available to Clients

Amenities at the facility include a gym, a pool, basketball courts, a recreation room, outdoor volleyball courts and other outdoor recreation areas, walking trails, and yoga on a naturistic property surrounded by a pine forest.

The aftercare program teaches clients relapse prevention strategies, encourages attendance at 12 step programs, and enrolls the client in the alumni mentoring program. The program also offers return to work planning and support, schedules diagnostic check ins, and connects the client to local behavioral and physical health care providers.