How Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. shifted the treatment industry, and why facilities nationwide have followed the Saint Jude Program’s lead.

In 1988 the growth of conventional substance abuse treatment in United States was beginning to lose momentum. Health insurance companies were reducing their coverage for treatment, poor success rates were being publicized, and federal and state tax dollars were being used at an alarming rate to make up for the shortfalls created by limited third party reimbursements causing a general strain on the system as a whole. As federal and state funding increased so too did regulation; and success rates for these state regulated, state funded programs continued to fall. All of this, however, did not change the simple fact that people struggling with substance abuse along with their families still needed an answer; a better answer. They needed a solution to overcome their problems regardless of the funding and paradigm shortfalls.

The options for treatment during this era were limited; 28 day, 12-step oriented in-patient rehabilitation facilities were the norm, supplemented by 12-step meetings and/or outpatient therapy acting as aftercare support programs. Religious programs or new age pop-psychology style programs were the only alternatives with abstinence success rates equal to or even lower than the abysmal 12-step or Minnesota model (5% - 20% range). Because conventional and religious models had a monopoly on the treatment industry there were no other options available, forcing those who went to treatment to be influenced by the disease and religious agendas. Between third party funds drying up and the demand to conform to greater federal and state regulations, the pressure on conventional treatment facilities to find a more effective method was enormous. People were no longer willing to subject themselves or their loved ones to a model that had become exposed for its continuing failures, confrontational methods and high patient relapse rates. Out of this cry for a better solution, Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. was formed, and the Saint Jude Program was developed to answer the call.

Today the 12-step model continues to be the most common type of treatment available with over 90% of the facilities in the US in this category, but that is down nearly 5% from just two years ago. The treatment landscape has shifted because of the early efforts of Baldwin Research and our St. Jude Retreat Houses that offer the only pure, social/educational, choice based program in the world. This paradigm shift continues today as facility after facility has abandoned the archaic models offered in the past, and are beginning to offer programs with more effective options. The Saint Jude Program continues to be the standard of the industry that other organizations attempt to copy. The twelfth edition of the Saint Jude Program is the latest and most advanced version of our program. Every new edition absorbs the latest research, and builds on the 20 years of experience utilizing the only pure choice based, non-12step, non-disease model.

All paradigm shifts occur based on need and a dedicated party that is willing to invest in the creation of a more effective alternative. In 2007 at least one treatment provider per day was going out of business, or was converting their respective program to a different approach. By performing a cursory search on the internet for “alternative drug treatment” you will see facilities and methods that did not exist even one year ago.

A simple ad campaign called “Treatment Doesn’t Work” sponsored by Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. in 1997, coupled with the courage to create a research based program provided the momentum needed to get the treatment community open to change, and a veritable snowball effect has occurred. People from all over the globe attend our programs because the Saint Jude Program is known around the world as the leader in the field. Our programs are completely results oriented, and our guests are the single priority and motivation for the curriculum used.

Today, there are options. The Saint Jude Program has been, and continues to be the model for the future. It is by no accident that the vast majority of new alternative programs are using the ‘Choice Based, non 12-step, educational program’ descriptions in their advertising (even when many still remain using a control/confrontational method in their facilities.) Our research is being used as well, and Baldwin Research is honored to have created and perfected throughout the last twenty years this new category for the public. It is our hope that the entire treatment community will join Baldwin Research on its mission to change the treatment industry to a more effective model whether it is called the Saint Jude Program or a program by another name.

We encourage you to search diligently for the help you need. Not all programs are of the same research based quality, and many will use marketing bait and switch tactics. If you would like information about other programs using the choice based language in their websites and you would like outside clarification on these facilities please do not hesitate to call us. The St. Jude Retreat Houses, and Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. have the experience where other programs may be just ‘learning the ropes’ in the social/educational choice based methods. It is important to know exactly what programs offer, especially when you or your loved one’s life is at stake. In light of this, if you would like a personal tour of any of our St. Jude Retreat Houses, please give us a call toll free at 1-888-424-2626 and we would be happy to help you.