Serenity Mesa is a youth addiction treatment center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, operated by Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), a nonprofit founded in 2010 by a group of parents and grandparents worried about rising heroin use among local teens. The center serves young people ages 14 to 20 who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, including those who may also have a co-occurring disorder. Its services span medical detox, inpatient treatment, and supportive housing.
Detox and Inpatient Treatment for Young People
Care often begins in the center’s on-site Crisis Triage Center, which provides inpatient medical detox lasting anywhere from three to 14 days, giving youth a safe setting to stabilize after drug or alcohol use. From there, young people can move into a 90-day inpatient treatment program that also serves as transitional living. During their stay, residents take part in individual and group therapy, case management, life skills training, experiential learning, and health and wellness activities, and they can keep working toward a high school diploma or GED. Job readiness training is also part of the program. Serenity Mesa is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Supportive Housing Beyond Treatment
Serenity Mesa’s housing program extends support to older teens and young adults into their mid-20s, offering both shared-site and scattered-site housing. Housing participants have access to case management and therapy, along with ongoing help with substance use and mental health needs as they arise. HAC also runs a rental assistance program for young people facing homelessness or unstable housing.
Admissions and Insurance
Admission starts with insurance verification, followed by a clinical interview with a licensed social worker to determine the right level of care, and then bed placement and a scheduled intake. Applicants need a diagnosed substance use disorder, active insurance, and a genuine willingness to engage in recovery, and the center does not accept individuals with a history of violence or sexual offenses. Serenity Mesa is in-network with New Mexico Medicaid and several private plans, including Presbyterian, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Molina, and TriWest.
