What is Milestone Foundation?

Milestone Foundation Inc. is a non-profit corporation licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services of the State of Maine to provide emergency shelter, detoxification, and extended care to chronic substance abusers.  Milestone may be an ideal setting for those in need of long-term alcohol treatment and/or drug treatment.  Milestone is proud to serve those in need regardless of age, race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or mental or physical handicap.

Milestone has been in operation for over forty years under the auspices of an elected Board of Directors. The Emergency Shelter and Medical Detoxification of Portland serves the needs of the late stage alcoholic and drug abuser while the Extended Care (Therapeutic Community) Facility, located in Old Orchard Beach, has provided residential substance abuse treatment since 1967.

Also offered in Old Orchard Beach is Transitional Housing and Outpatient Counseling for “graduates” of the Extended Care Program, and permanent housing for individuals in need of a safe environment in order to maintain the recovery gains they’ve made in treatment.

Treatment Philosophy

Long term abuse of alcohol and other drugs leaves an individual with brain-functioning impairments that take substantial time to reverse (if ever). During this time period, as well as during episodes of active substance abuse, an individual is not capable of making decisions that are in his/her best interest. Rational decision-making is severely impaired during the early stages of recovery. Treatment programs that expect high initial recovery rates and little recidivism by the late-stage alcoholic/drug abuser are often unsuccessful with this population. Programs designed for early-stage alcoholics simply do not work with individuals in the later stages of the disease.

Relapses should be an expected part of the long-term recovery of the late-stage alcoholic and drug abuser. Frequent shelter admissions and multiple detoxifications are services to this population that are usually necessary in the long-term recovery process.  Programs for this population should be designed for the impairments of the late-stage alcoholic with recidivism being considered opportunities to break the cycle of emergency shelter, detoxification and a return to drinking.

Milestone adheres to both State and Federal prohibitions against refusing care to alcoholics and drug abusers because of their frequent use of the programs or discharge status.

History

Milestone Foundation, Inc. is one of the oldest substance abuse treatment programs in Maine. Founded in the mid-1960s as a detoxification program, it focused its services on alcoholics and drug abusers who could not afford to pay the full cost of their care. As traditional treatment became hospital-based, Milestone changed its program to focus on the late-stage alcoholic and drug abuser whose long history of substance abuse did not respond to traditional short-term therapies. Thus "Extended Care" was established at Milestone in 1979. This program was the first of its kind in Maine (and possibly in the nation) in which the consequences of lifelong alcoholism and drug abuse were reflected in the program admission criteria and the therapeutic design of the treatment facility.  Milestone recognized that only a lengthy period of sobriety could reverse some of the extensive physical and mental impairments caused by alcohol and/or drug abuse.

In 1998 Milestone assumed sponsorship of an emergency homeless shelter and detoxification program at 65 India Street, Portland, Maine.  The shelter program serves the poor, indigent and late-stage alcoholic and drug abuser with a safe place to sleep, clean clothes, food, showers and counseling. The detoxification program offers medical assistance to clients who wish to break their physical addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Under the guidance of a medical director and 24-hour nursing staff, clients are safely withdrawn from their physical addiction and referred to further care.

To assist clients of Milestone’s programs who cannot safely return to society without a supervised living environment, in 2002 Milestone opened a permanent housing program in Old Orchard Beach.  This setting offers the necessary support for recovering alcoholics and drug abusers to maintain abstinence while maximizing their contributions to the community.

Mission Statement