Aviation professionals face special career stress that often drives them to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. As their substance abuse gets worse, they compromise their safety as well as the airline passengers for whom they’re responsible. This results in disciplinary action and a subsequent decline in quality of life and overall health. The stress associated with a career in aviation has prompted airlines to form an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help employees cope and, if necessary, receive quality addiction treatment. Our own aviation professionals treatment program works in conjunction with the airlines to get pilots out of addiction and back in the air.
Behavioral Health of the Beaches’ Aviators Treatment Program
Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches has developed a specialized treatment program that addresses the complex addiction care needs of pilots and other aviation professionals. The program is 100 percent HIMS-compliant and meets all current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) protocols and requirements. It is designed to administer quality drug and alcohol abuse treatment to aviation professionals and responsibly facilitate their return to work.
Comprehensive Clinical Aviation Professionals Treatment
The program was created with the assistance of Dr. Joseph R. Tordella, HIMS Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), a leader in aerospace medicine with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Tordella also heads the program as our Aviation Medicine Consultant. Participants undergo three stages of care while in the program (detox, rehab, and aftercare) and are treated in a time frame that is compliant with FAA medical standards. Like all of our programs, patients begin by receiving a full physical evaluation and in-depth psychological assessment.
We then offer a personalized rehab plan that incorporates one or more of the following therapies:
- Trauma treatment through the use of EMDR and individual counseling
- Chronic pain treatment
- Anxiety and depression management
- Grief/loss counseling, a process which guides patients through each stage of the grieving process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance
- Anger management
We also provide regular contact with referral sources including the EAP and provide completion of all necessary documentation and paperwork as required by the patients’ employers and the FAA. The program includes a weekly support group which is led by a professional with over 15 years of experience in the aviation industry and is centered on issues specific to aviation professionals.
Aftercare and Transitional Assistance
Once patients have successfully completed their residential treatment, they are transferred to aftercare which they complete via an outpatient program. The length of aftercare is based on the long-term care needs of the patient which are established during their initial evaluation. The aviation professionals treatment program has been helping pilots overcome their substance abuse and resume distinguished careers for over ten years.
Please call us anytime day or night, 24/7 TOLL-FREE at (888) 432-2467 for more information on our aviation treatment program.
