SEARCY, Ark. — Unity Health hosted a ribbon cutting and facility tours on Thursday, July 30 to introduce its new Adolescent Recovery & Wellness program, a residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program for youth ages 12–17. The program is scheduled to open in August 2026 at Unity Health – Specialty Care, located at 1200 South Main Street in Searcy.
“Today is about hope. Hope for our kids,” said LaDonna Johnston, President and CEO of Unity Health. “This unit provides hope for children and their families, and safe, quality care for a vulnerable group that needs our help. This is the first unit in Arkansas for substance abuse that accepts Medicaid payment. We are making history today.”
The program provides care for adolescents experiencing substance use disorders, with or without co-occurring mental health conditions. Designed for youth who require a structured environment with 24-hour supervision, it helps adolescents achieve recovery and develop healthy coping skills. The 24-bed secure unit offers separate accommodations for male and female patients, with an anticipated length of stay of four to six weeks.
Using a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach, the program’s clinical services include individual, group, and family therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), relapse prevention planning, and 12-Step recovery support. It follows an abstinence-based recovery model and also emphasizes family involvement, educational support from licensed special education teachers, and discharge planning that begins at admission, with Registered Nurses providing 24-hour monitoring.
Admission is based on clinical necessity, and both voluntary and court-involved referrals are considered. The program works with a broad range of insurance providers, including Arkansas Medicaid and PASSE. Referrals are welcomed from families, healthcare providers, schools, community agencies, and other professionals.
With its opening, the Adolescent Recovery & Wellness program aims to fill a critical gap in care for Arkansas youth and their families, offering a path to recovery close to home.
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Unity Health is an Arkansas healthcare system consisting of four hospitals, 28 family practice clinics and specialties consisting of 15 areas of practice. As the leading healthcare provider and largest employer in an eight-county area, Unity Health and its more than 2,300 associates strive to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities they serve through compassionate care. Unity Health has more than 160 physicians who specialize in various areas of healthcare.
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