Stonington Institute - Groton, Connecticut

William R.

I came there excited with expectations to get sobriety. Only to walk into utter chaos! Extremely unsanitary, unprofessional staff, mold and mil-due smell of throughout the facility. Fingerprints on all over the walls. carpet’s extremely filthy. One bathroom to 12 men as small as a porter potty. Extremely unsanitary and no one cares. No structure for a safe environment.

G H.

This place is not a rehab facility it is an insurance fraud. I do not believe the location is in the rehabilitation business at all. This may be due to higher decisions reflecting on staff of just a general I don’t care either case what is happening is far from alcohol or drug rehab. Let start with the facility itself phones don’t work and staff outright lies about causes and fixes for the future. Facility is dirty and smoking is everywhere with staff not caring a bit. Front desk staff has a general dislike of patients (I have a hard time calling them patients by the way they are treated). Pods run the facilities and again staff outright lies or avoids any questions or situations by passing the buck or stating their hands are tied. Last before I get branded bitter let me explain about a lead clinition upon intake when asking about the previous reviews saying “think about who writes these reviews” well I will tell you I am a man with a problem who was looking for help and got none. I am a professional man with many years in healthcare and I am appalled. In two days of classes to get better I watched two movies one of which was a 1970s movie “image of the beast “ where the instructor said very few words except making reference to the movie and Israel and tattoos on today’s youth unbelievable! Another class was 45 minutes of talking amongst each other and filling out a form that I had filled out 4 times prior. Again another class was listening to music of the classmates choice because instructor was not prepared due to not having time? What other line of work is this acceptable? The last class on my last day was a doozy no instructor two hours of just sitting unsupervised un taught with a counselor taking role! That’s it no back up plan no learning no getting better at all just a lack of not caring!

Natalia G.

If you value yours or your loved ones life STAY FAR AWAY. There's so much to say, but let's start with the violence. 2 weeks ago May 1rst a patient was brutally beat TO DEATH. pt informed staff of the bullying and they did nothing. Nor did they step in or try to seperate them. Last year in April during my boyfriends stay, another man was SEVERLY beaten. The men and woman are fighting daily. Staff doesn't care. They know what is going on but continue to turn a blind eye. The place is run like a street gang. Believe there are weapons in there. Do to staff not searching properaly.
Staff treats pts like the utter most trash. They steal money as family can only mail cash. Not visa gift cards only cash.
The place is full of dr%gs. They do not search and people bring in all sorts of stuff. Staff is so cold, it's obvious they're just there for a check.
Men and woman are engaging in segsual activity everywhere. Ppl on the outside throw stuff one the fence. Then they fight over who is with who.
I know early recovery is a mess. Your dealing with mentally unstable people. But the staff doesn't do anything to keep the violent and the disrespect down.
Over all Id give it a 0 if I could.
Idk how this place is still open. Stonington always had a good reputation, but this new building is not a safe place. Not safe from being hurt, not safe from belittling staff and not face from substances.
And watch it if the group or a few people don't like you. They'll just plot to really hurt you or lie on you. So many ppl are kicked out while your in the program from he said he said. Staff is racist and play favorites. You can't focus on healing when all your surronded by is the very thing your trying to get away from. You can't focus on yourself when you have to watch your back.

The state needs to shut this place down , yesterday. I also didn't see the news saying a man was beat to death there. Guess they want to keep it quite , or the sub human addicts are not important.

Stay away. The only thing nice about it is the new building is in & that smoking is allowed. They do have a nice basket ball court. But that's it l.Other than that run!!!!

Erica H.

Just got off the phone with Rich Laffarglie who is the director of the PHP with housing program at Stonington Institute in Groton. My family member is currently a patient. The patients are allowed dozens of cigarette breaks a day but the only way to send them cigarettes is by sending them cash. The money is given to the patients, who then give it back to staff members who do "cigarette runs." (patient keeps the money until these runs happen) Rich saw no reason to be concerned about giving addicts, with only days clean, money to hold on to.

I looked into Rich's background and his training comes from law enforcement- not addiction. Which was very clear. I asked if I could send money to them instead- or send sealed cigarettes instead- he was short and rude and just said no.

I'll be writing the CEO, who Rich said is his only boss. But who knows what that will do- because this is just another example of our failed system and lack of knowledgeable staff and leadership pertaining to addiction.

Put a corrections officer turned warden in charge of addicts. That is the "treatment" and the guidance they are receiving in their recovery process. He said "money isn't a trigger, it's just money," just telling on how little he understands addiction.

Please do better Stonington. And no, Im not sending an addict with 8 days clean cash.

Greg C.

That place is like jail only with less cameras, a couple of staff members are very clearly on drugs , I came there to be in a safe drug free environment and that place is neither of those. There’s black mold all over the place , there’s 11 rooms in the mens unit and only two of them had air conditioning, nearly every phone is broke
And they don’t fix them. I was truly shocked after my first full day there. I do not recommend this to anyone trying to get there life together and sober at all, there are other options. Use of of those

C C.

Would have given no stars if I could! Omg! Drugs, mj pens and prison tattoos being traded, bought and sold openly! People Screaming, fighting and bullying! No security or cameras! Total chaos! We heard the yelling and fighting over the phone. When my husband pulled up a few hours later someone on a gurney was being loaded into an Ambulance. People yelling “ another OD”. We had been warned that OD’s were occurring on a regular basis but we didn’t believe it. A rehab counselor said she had picked up a client just the other day who said there was so much drugs and fighting that he asked if she could write an anonymous review for him. Do NOT send your loved one here! This place needs to be investigated ASAP! Nothing therapeutic about this place at all! They wanted us to send cash and set up an account with a tobacco merchant? I always sent cigs that were sealed! They got tons of drugs for sale inside but they’re worried about cigs that are sealed! And cash?

Slickster H.

The addicts in question can cure themselves when in their heart of hearts are convinced that they are better off clean and sober'. These rehab places are nothing but another means of ripping off the states; greed rules.

Maria R.

I went to this place June 16th and got out August 5th.. time went by super fast bc of the “school” they have, this place helped me so much I’ve been sober ever since I got out.. I’ve also met such amazing people there that I’m still talking to outside of the rehab, you walk to school which is the building in the picture or you can ride the van over and you go to school from Monday- Friday from 9-3 and weekends you stay at the institute. Thank you to all the staff that helped me get clean and stay clean, God bless you all.❤️