Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center - Substance Trt and Recovery (STAR)

They treat people at inpatient hospital, outpatient, telemedicine and detox. Outpatient keeps you at home and working, and a residential stay takes you out of the place you were using in.

They detox from opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine and methamphetamines. Coming off opioids without medical supervision can be dangerous, which is why it matters that this is one of 4 places near Charleston that do it.

They treat adults from 26 to 64 and young adults from 18 to 25. Ask whether the groups are split by age, because in Charleston that can mean one mixed room rather than several.

Within 14 miles there are 8 other centers, across North Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

They do video appointments, which matters if Charleston is a drive for you.

They prescribe buprenorphine and naltrexone, which means the medication side is handled here rather than referred out to somewhere else in Charleston.

It is common, and a program that takes referrals will know exactly what the court expects. Missing sessions has consequences beyond the clinical ones, which is a real difference in practice. Tell the program about the deadline in the order at the start, not near it.

The levels run from a weekly appointment up to a residential bed, with two useful steps in between. Medical risk pushes toward inpatient care: withdrawal that needs supervision is not an outpatient problem. Ask what the step down from residential care looks like at that center.