800-784-1361
There are many communication problems with the staff that need urgent improvement, they make schedules for x hour and then they are unavailable or late. Besides that, some of the doctors are really great with patients (in the way they treat them) but not always can help them ...
About Meridian Behavioral Health
Addiction services at Meridian Behavioral Health include mental health assessments and counseling, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, outpatient programs, and medication-assisted treatment.
Mental Health Assessment & Counseling
Mental health assessments help determine an individual’s mental health status and severity of addiction and provide the basis for an individualized treatment plan. This plan may include individual, group, and/or family counseling. These therapies help patients achieve and maintain long-term recovery.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves the application of evidence-based practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat substance use disorder in adults. The inpatient rehab program begins with a mental health assessment, followed by counseling, recovery support meetings, and educational workshops.
Outpatient Programs
Outpatient programs are best suited for individuals that would benefit from addiction treatment but do not require 24-hour medical care. Programs are held during the day and in the evenings. The intensive outpatient program offers sessions several days per week. Treatment includes individual and group therapy, educational groups to enhance coping skills, relapse prevention, and recovery support.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT includes counseling, support groups, and medication management in an outpatient setting. This treatment is provided for alcohol and opioid addictions. As clients progress and stabilize, in-person office appointments tend to become less frequent.
Fact checked and written by:
Michelle Tavares, MSN, RN
Edited by:
Kerry Nenn, BSW
Latest Reviews
I am thankful for the services they have provided! My experience has been stellar.
Response from the owner1 week ago
Thank you, Christina, for your kind review!
I attended some programming in 2021 that was some of the worst treatment I have ever received. Counter productive. There's programs where I wasn't willing to do the work, I wouldn't disparage those. Blue Ridge is a bad program.
In 2025, I have had four appointments. Appointment 1 was scheduled wrong on their end and they cancelled it after I showed up. Appointment 2 was canceled after I showed up, again.
Appointment 3 was an hour late after I showed up. Appointment 4 checked me in, they forgot about me for an hour, and then it was cancelled. I spoke to the clinical director who offered no effective solutions or guarantees that I would be seen in a timely manner. Why even have appointments?
This place doesn't care. Go anywhere else if you can.
Response from the owner1 week ago
Cory, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are very sorry to hear about your cancelled appointments. We take all feedback seriously and someone from our organization will be in touch. We care about your health and well-being!
This place is pretty special. They spread good throughout an under-served segment of our community by providing a safe place for neighbors recovering and healing, who might not have the means to stay in a rehab facility. People who have bills to pay, family to care for, and work to do (or find) and still deal with their personal demons have solace here. Tools are provided for work training, personal empowerment, healing through creativity, and many more classes and offerings (both in person/virtual), as well as personal mental health therapy sessions. This group perfectly exemplifies our mountain culture of hospitality and endurance while occupying a historic craftsman style home near downtown Waynesville. I really cannot give enough words of praise for this down-to-earth home-grown practice of truly caring professionals.
Response from the owner1 week ago
Thank you, Lynnora, for such a kind testimonial to the service we provide at our Walnut Street location. We are honored to be entrusted with your health and well-being! 
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology
5.5 / 10
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Other Forms of Payment
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.
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.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.
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.
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.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.
Rehab aftercare programs offer a complete continuum of care for clients in the maintenance phase of recovery and are predicated on the idea that addiction disease is a chronic condition prone to relapse and warranting continuing care. Clients collaborate with their care team and case manager to access the specific rehab aftercare services they need to promote their sustained sobriety. Peer coaching, relapse prevention services, career counseling, and 12 step program induction are common in these programs.
A sober living home in North Carolina offers structure and support to help individuals maintain sobriety. The home is free from substances and offers 12-step programs, individual responsibilities, and mutual support with others in recovery. This setting can provide a lifeline as individuals strengthen recovery skills and prepare to reenter mainstream society. Most residents remain in a men's or women's sober living home for six months or more.
A medically assisted detox is the safest way to remove addictive drugs and alcohol from your body. A team of licensed medical professionals will look after you 24/7 to monitor your health, help minimize discomfort, and provide medications if necessary to alleviate any withdrawal symptoms. This process is typically the first step in your recovery and may take around 5-7 days, although length will depend on your individual needs.
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.
There are many types of drug rehab in North Carolina. To receive treatment for addiction, you can choose from many inpatient and outpatient programs. Often, participants start with detox and work through a full continuum of care that continues with ongoing support for long-term recovery.
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
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Clinical Services
Clients who receive cognitive behavioral therapy in North Carolina typically attend five to 20 sessions. During this time, they work with their therapist to learn healthier patterns of thinking, which can help them change their behavior related to substance use.
Counseling that applies dialectical behavior therapy teaches you coping skills to apply to your daily life. The focus is on intense emotions and developing coping mechanisms to manage them. Therapy sessions are a series of teaching lessons that help you develop these coping skills.
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.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.
Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.
If you've been smoking for a while, your body has become physically dependent on the addictive substance nicotine. To avoid unpleasant withdrawal as you quit smoking, you can use nicotine replacement therapy in North Carolina. This gives you controlled amounts of nicotine in the form of lozenges, inhalers, sprays, patches, or gum.
Amenities
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Private Rooms
Staff
Richard Hudspeth, MD
CEO
Don Buckner, MD
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Traci Spence
COO
Michelle Hogsed
Director of Quality Management
Brian Morton
CFI
Aaron Ratliff
Director of Human Resources
MaryShell Zaffino, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Contact Information
131 Walnut Street
Waynesville, NC 28786
Get Help Now - 828-974-8579
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