Hey everyone — I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind while helping get the word out about Grasonville Health Services (GHS).
So part of what I do for the clinic is handle outreach & PR — basically, I make sure folks can find us online if they’re searching for help with addiction treatment. I’ve been submitting GHS to all kinds of rehab directories & resource websites. Seems simple enough, right?
Well… not exactly.
I learned the hard way that not all those websites or phone numbers you see when you Google “addiction help” are what they seem. Some don’t even connect you to a real treatment center. Instead, they route you to call centers run by third-party marketing companies.
What Are Rehab/Treatment Call Centers?
These call centers are like middlemen. They don’t work for the clinics. They work for themselves or for a parent company that owns a bunch of treatment centers. They usually answer the phone with something like:
• “Addiction Help Line”
• “Treatment Support Services”
• “Rehab Placement Center”
And if you’re not paying attention, it sounds like you’re calling an actual facility — but you’re not. You’re talking to someone who might be reading off a script & trying to get you into their network’s programs, whether they’re right for you or not.
Here’s Where It Gets Personal
Even I got caught up in it — & I’m just trying to list a legit, licensed clinic listed so local people can find us. I filled out a few forms to get GHS listed on directories, called a few places, thinking it would be a quick way for people to find us. But when reps started calling/emailing me back, it was as if they didn’t read my message- they assumed I was looking for treatment. One instance, I called what I thought was a listing site, only for a treatment facility call center to answer. I told the woman I had gotten the number directly from the listing site- how it made it sound I was calling the site, but she had no idea what the site was. She said she’d have a coworker who had more knowledge email me- & they did. But it was as if the first woman told her nothing. The email was about how to get ME into treatment. Not at all about if they’re connected to the listing site, & if so- how I’d go about getting us listed.
Some wouldn’t even tell me what website they were calling from. Many sites require a sizable amount of money just to be listed or asked if you’d be willing to “partner” — which really just means paying them for leads or being added to their referral system.
It honestly blew my mind. I kept thinking: If this is confusing for me — someone on the clinic’s side — how is someone in crisis or looking for help supposed to make sense of it all? It was a frustrating experience.
What’s the Big Deal?
• These centers don’t always have your best interest at heart — they’re trying to fill beds at certain places.
• They might push expensive, out-of-state programs that don’t fit your needs at all.
• They usually don’t tell you upfront who they really work for.
• They can take advantage of people who are scared, overwhelmed, or desperate for answers.
So… What Can You Do Instead?
If you or someone you care about is looking for help, here are a few legit places you can search for free — with real, licensed clinics listed:
• FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA) – the official government database for mental health & substance use services. Totally free & reliable.
• MATsDirectory.com – a specialized listing just for Medication-Assisted Treatment clinics.
• DrugRehabUS.org – includes Maryland-specific listings & smaller, local providers.
These sites are more straightforward, I’ve found- with one being a government site, nor make you jump through hoops or talk to a stranger with a headset & a script. You can find a treatment provider, & just call them directly.
You can also try looking for facilities via Google Maps- at least then you know you’re talking to an actual facility.
A Quick Plug for GHS
At Grasonville Health Services, we’re a small MAT clinic serving Queen Anne’s County & surrounding areas. We focus on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) & offering a safe, supportive place without judgment.
If you call us, you’re talking directly to someone on our team, AT the clinic in Grasonville — NEVER a call center. We won’t pressure you, we won’t upsell you, & we won’t send you across the country.
We’re open Monday through Friday 5:30am-12:30pm. No appointments needed & same day intake. Majority of time, same day dosing is available too! (This depends on what medication you choose, & other variables that nursing will go over with you)
Getting help should be simple & honest. That’s what we’re trying to do here — and I hope this post helps at least one person avoid some of the traps I ran into myself.
