About Ernie Turner Center
The Ernie Turner Center in Anchorage, Alaska, is a 16-bed residential treatment facility for men and women. They provide proven addiction treatment services such as group counseling and peer recovery support. Clients can also receive case management services.
Healing Through Individual and Group Counseling
Clients will participate in multiple group and individual counseling sessions throughout their stay at the Ernie Turner Center. Counselors will focus on helping you better understand your addiction and develop relapse prevention strategies. Some strategies that you may learn about include building a support system, finding new hobbies, and mindfulness stress reduction.
When you participate in group counseling, you’ll get to learn from the insights of your peers and receive encouragement from them. It will also give you a chance to practice your communication skills so you’re better equipped to resist peer pressure to use substances. I like that the facility will strive to make sure all of their treatments are culturally relevant and steeped in Alaskan Native values.
Helpful Guidance From Peer Specialists
It can be helpful for clients to connect with someone who’s been through the recovery process and is currently living a sober lifestyle. Peer support specialists will be able to share their lived experience with addiction to give you advice and encouragement as you work towards healing. They can also guide you to various resources that will support your overall recovery.
When you’re able to spend time outside of the facility, you can check out the local parks that are nearby such as Tikishla Park and Sitka Street Park. Another place you might also like visiting is the Alaska Botanical Garden.
Facility Overview
Rehab Score
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Treatments
The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.
During drug rehab in Alaska, you'll receive a combination of medical and psychotherapeutic treatments that are designed to treat drug dependency. The goal of drug rehab is to break this dependency and help you develop the skills to maintain a drug-free life.
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.
Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.
Programs


Clinical Services
Animal therapy (aka pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy) can be very healing, as it allows patients to bond with animals, who give unconditional love. This is particularly useful for those who suffered trauma by the hands of people, who may be able to trust and form closer attachments to animals than humans at certain stages of rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Amenities
-
Residential Setting
Accreditations

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.
CARF Accreditation: Yes
Contact Information
4330 South Bragaw street
Anchorage AK, 99508