St. Elizabeths Psychiatric Hospital

1100 Alabama Avenue Southeast
Washington, Washington DC 20032

Washington, Washington DC

202-299-5100

About St. Elizabeths Psychiatric Hospital

St. Elizabeths Psychiatric Hospital in Washington, DC plays a very specific role when addiction and severe mental illness collide. This is not a traditional addiction rehab or detox center. It’s a public inpatient psychiatric hospital where substance use disorders are often part of a much bigger clinical picture.

Many people arrive here in active addiction or withdrawal alongside mood disorders, psychosis or severe behavioral instability that cannot be safely managed in standard treatment settings. This hospital can safely guide you into recovery.

When Addiction Is Complicated

At St. Elizabeth's, addiction is treated within a highly structured inpatient environment, usually alongside diagnoses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression. Care focuses first on stabilization and safety, which can include managing withdrawal symptoms, addressing substance induced psychiatric symptoms, and beginning medication management for both mental health and substance use needs. Because many patients are admitted through emergency or court related pathways, treatment here isn’t always voluntary.

A Hospital Setting and Not a Rehab Experience

I think that this is important to understand when going in. St Elizabeth’s doesn't operate like a residential addiction treatment center with group schedules or comfort focused amenities. The setting is institutional and medically driven, with close supervision and strict structure.

Addiction Treatment Programs

Adult Program

Adults who have substance use disorders have often been through a lot — trauma, getting and losing jobs, having and losing housing, and more. In Washington, DC, an adult rehab can help you focus on these experiences and learn to process and manage them without turning to substance use.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Washington, DC, allows people to address unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving by challenging their thinking patterns. This allows participants to overcome thinking distortions and develop better coping skills so they can move away from substance use.

LGBTQ Friendly Rehab

LGBTQ-Friendly Rehabs in Washington DC are designed to address the unique care needs of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, and queer communities. Treatment models address the traumatic histories that members of the LGBTQ+ community often experience and that may trigger or exacerbate addictive behaviors. LGBTQ-friendly rehabs prioritize the creation of safe and affirming spaces for all clients, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Men's Rehab

A men’s rehab in Washington, DC, addresses mental and emotional concerns that are common to men, which might include sharing emotions, vulnerability, anger management, and trauma. Addressing these unique issues in a community with other men can help participants heal and develop healthy coping mechanisms so they don’t need to turn to substance use.

Senior Drug & Alcohol Rehab

Senior drug and alcohol rehabs in Washington DC prioritize the unique recovery needs of older adults. While traditional rehabs typically support the medical, mental, and behavioral health of persons from their mid-twenties to their mid-fifties, senior rehabs respect the specific recovery challenges of clients in their late fifties and beyond. Treatment may address chronic pain issues, grief and loss, life stage transitions, and other concerns relevant to the sobriety of an aging client population.

Women's Rehab

Women experience life differently than men, so having a specific women’s rehab can be helpful. A women’s rehab in Washington, DC, can address pregnancy concerns, mothering skills, and the unique experiences women have that might lead to substance use, leading to a more effective treatment experience.

Teen & Adolescent Program

Young adults face a lot of uncertainty and pressure as they transition to fully independent living. Young adult rehabs in Washington, DC, can help them address these concerns in healthy ways, develop practical coping skills, and learn essential life skills so they can overcome addiction and live a substance-free lifestyle.

Levels of Care

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehabs in Washington DC provide the highest levels of care for clients in early recovery and/or those at an elevated risk of relapse. Inpatient rehab enables clients to reside onsite and focus exclusively on their recovery in a highly structured and supportive environment featuring robust supervision. Typical inpatient services include psychotherapy, recovery-focused life skills training, and complementary therapies; medical detox may also be provided.

Dual Diagnosis & Mental Health

Dual diagnosis care in Washington DC is a specialized, multi-pronged approach to addiction recovery tailored to the unique care needs of persons with co-occurring addiction and mental illness. Dual diagnosis care is predicated on the assumption that lasting recovery can only be achieved if the underlying mental health conditions that contribute to or exacerbate the addiction are also addressed. The dual diagnosis care model typically integrates extensive psychotherapy, recovery education, and pharmacotherapy, if appropriate.