CRI Help Pfleger Center

This is my own personal story, but I went to the Lincoln Heights location. It started off wonderful and honestly as far as amenities go and what they provide you it’s actually been the best rehab that I’ve seen. That’s a county bed. The bald guy that seems to tell everybody “first off I am so glad you’re here” I should’ve listened to my gut when I could tell how superficial he was being. I had several staff act unprofessionally with me, but I brushed it off and did not report it when I should have. In the end, they just make up rules as they go. I ended up leaving before I was supposed to because I was just tired of the smug attitude that I was getting from half of the staff there who started off awesome with the beginning. All of the patients liked me. The only other issue I’ve had with any other treatment facility and I’ve been the many of them unfortunately is with Tarzana. But I will say Cri help as much nicer than Tarzana. Normally based on experiences and how I review, I would give this place to maybe three stars, but these types of places are supposed to have compassion and care for people and all they wanna do is throw the you didn’t act right card over people who are actively going through withdrawal. Keep in mind I only went through detox not residential. I witnessed other patients do things way more out of line than anything that you could say that I did and even what I did it’s debatable to say was out of line. It does seem like they tried to get me back in to one of their facilities, but at the end of the day they told me no you can find another one. I’m really gonna find a way to go out of my way to figure out how to report facilities like this one and Tarzana because I don’t believe they have any grounds to deny me treatment. I’ll find another treatment center or I’ll do it myself cause I’m a survivor. But just understand you basically have to be an obedient dog at places like this. Their side of the story is that I was out of line and I was a problematic patient. I know anyone reading this is only reading my version of the story. Generally, the truth, lie somewhere in the middle. But in my eyes, I thought I was a pretty good patient and very respectful with the staff and I know all of the other patients love me. It was just at the end when something happened. That is not even really worth getting into on here cause it’s just really ridiculous. I ended up leaving. And I’ve noticed when you stand your ground and you decide you’re just gonna leave because you don’t like the way you’re being treated these types of places to switch up on you so fast.

Campbell Sadeghy

I contacted cri help on behalf of my brother on may 7th , 2025 at approximately 2:30 pm. The first time I made contact they were pleasant people. From May 7th up until yesterday May 9th. We’ve been in contact. Our first phone call with them , they did his intake and informed him his insurance was in a different county. I asked what needed to be done. The person informed me we needed to initiate a transfer and get his case number. I said okay. The following morning On May 8th. My brother and I initiated a transfer. We called cri help back on May 8th around 1:45-2pm that afternoon. My brother did another intake he spoke with a gentleman in the detox portion. That gentleman informed him he did need his case number as well which we forgot to get the first time we were on the phone with the county. My brother said okay. The interaction ended there. The gentlemen did mention he could have a bed for him the following day which was May 9th if he could get his case number and to call back before 4pm with the case number. Once my brother hung up , we knew we couldn’t get the case number that day. The morning of May 9th at 7am I was able to get his case number from the county. The did say that the number was his case number and I said okay. At 9:20 am I called cri help. I said I have my brothers case number am I able to give it to you to see what the bed availability is? The gentleman informed me he already had an appointment for detox which was the first appointment of the day. He stated “hopefully he’s on his way because he has the first appointment” I then responded “he’s not. Because I’m the one who is supposed to take him , we weren’t aware the appointment was solidified because they said we needed a case number and to call back once we had it so how was it made without the case number that was needed?” The gentleman then said “well what time can you get him there” I said maybe around 12 or 1pm” he said well that’s the absolute latest “ and we hung up the phone. I waited until I got with my brother so he could reschedule his appointment because they had to talk to him directly. Once I met up with my brother. He called intake again. A lady by the name of Fina or (Dina) Arellano , picked up the phone. My brother speaks with her she asked him for his case number with the upmost attitude. He mentioned that her tone wasn’t appreciated and even asked at one point during their brief call “ma’am are you yelling at me right now?” He tells her I have his case number and all he has to do is walk less than a minute to grab me. She stated “no call back when you have it and hangs up” I call back myself less than 1 minute later. She answers and says “hello Dina speaking” I said “hi yes , you were just talking with my brother?” She said “oh yes (blank). As if she was irritated. I said yes ma’am so what’s going on? She says “well do you have the case number?” Extremely impatient. So I proceed to read of the case number in a timely manner because clearly she had other things to tend to. She asked me to slow down. Once she had the number she says with an attitude and a raised voice “ugh no that’s the card number , I need the case number , I think you’re not understanding I need the case number” I said “ I don’t appreciate how you’re speaking to me. Especially when you’re trained to have empathy and sympathy because you’re dealing with addicts” she then proceeds to tell me “maybe your brother just isn’t dedicated because he missed his appointment this morning, I can’t just give him another bed” I said the appointment we found out was booked without us knowing? The appointment I stated to them he wouldn’t make it too this morning?” Why was the appointment booked if you needed his case number? She then says with attitude “ because I took a chance on him thinking it would all be figured out this morning” I said simply if it wasn’t protocol it shouldn’t have been done that’s not his fault he couldn’t make it because of me and I stated that to you multiple times. You have no place to tell someone reaching out that they’re not dedicated.

Mae Williams

They Saved my life after 15 straight years of drugs and alcohol and I’m now almost 5 years sober. Diane Baker and Marlene Nadel are 2nd to God to me!

Matty Ramsey

I've been dealing with Alcoholism for some years now I lost my mother and both of my brothers in the recent years and I resorted to drinking every day I was in a really dark place I was losing family and friends my life started spiralling out of control but I decided I wanted to turn my life around I needed help I wanted help someone told me about this place called CRI HELP so I searched them and got their number I spoke to someone name Sergio at first he seemed really helpful and wanted to help me he gave me a screening I gave him my info and my health insurance information he asked me when was I ready to come in the program I was waiting on my deposit because I needed to get some personal items light underwear t shirt deodorant soap ECT so he said ok once my deposit came he told me he needed to do another screen on me this time when he screened me he asked about my health issues and told him I was diabetic his whole tone in his voice changed it went from this confident I wanna help you guy to I don't think I can help you guy after the screening he told me he will have to speak with his manager and advocate for and he will call me back but I was thinking to myself why did he have to advocate for me I was confused I called them back the next day because at this point I really want get in this program and start the process the manager I for got her name but basically said in order for me to be excepted in the program I need my medicine which I had and a glucose monitor which I got when I called back they really didn't want to speak to me and basically said I wasn't excepted what a waist of time y'all heartbreaking how there's people like this running a program called CRI HELP when someone is actually crying for help and they turned they're back on me because I am diabetic that's crazy you take people's information and do God knows what with it knowing you have no intention on helping people I don't know about anyone else and they're experience but this was so weird I feel like there's no hope for humanity if these people would take someone like me in need of a alcohol program turn they're backs on me because I'm diabetic is a shame can you imagine how they treat you once you get in the program

Mr Mayes

Honest experience I’m going to share. My fiance has been here twice for detox. The first time went okay for him, but he decided to leave because they wouldn’t allow him his Calvin & Hobbes books (not AA approved, I sort of get it since they have policies they need to follow but… Calvin & Hobbes??). This first time while he was there, he seemed to be treated okay, but I wasn’t. They like to say on their website and even during intake that family can be involved and it’s good for the addict to have support. Though, when I would call for an update on how he was doing (which I was told I was allowed to do) I was met with annoyance and short responses. I thought to myself “I get it, they’re probably busy,” but it still felt weird. Then when I came in to drop off items that I was called and told he requested, two things happened — one, I brought an empty journal for him to use and was met with “…what is this?” And told he couldn’t have it. A…blank journal? Okay, whatever. Then, I had 2 encounters with a woman that left me stunned. The first one, she told me that I need to not let me fiance back home unless he was clean, even if it meant him being homeless. The second, she said “you again? What are you doing here?” And told me to stop showing up and that if he wanted to contact me, he could and he would, and that if he hadn’t it’s because he didn’t want to (no, detox patients can’t use the phone, so apparently that was a lie). She said other things to do but long story short, I was left in TEARS. I also found out that once my fiance came home, apparently there were times he asked them to call me for items and they told him they did, when they 100% didn’t. I ALWAYS answered their calls to be there for him. Fast forward, and he needed to go back to detox. It happens, addiction is hard. The FIRST night he’s there, instead of the doctor taking his height, weight, and previous medical history into consideration when prescribing him detox medication, they just gave him what they give everyone — it ended up being too little of a dose and he had a seizure. When sent to the hospital, the nurses were trying ENDLESSLY to contact the staff at Cri Help to get information on the medicine he was given, how much, etc. and to get an idea of how he was going to get back once he was discharged. My fiance, as well as I, were calling too regarding this. No communication. AT all. It was so frustrating to have him sitting in the hospital, wanting to be clean, WILLING to go back and finish detox AND transfer to residential, but have the facility disregard him (maybe because he wasn’t physically there? Like maybe they thought they could just sort of brush him under the rug for a bit? I don’t know). So, my fiance decided not to return because it didn’t seem like they care. Fast forward to today. My fiance realizes he can’t do it on his own, and decided that even though his experiences were off, he wanted to go back because he was serious about getting clean and finally gaining control of his life. The intake woman was unbearable. Not only was she condescending to my fiance when he was trying to explain the situation, but basically said “we’re not going to give you more medication, (fiance name). We can’t just do that.” And “I mean why would you even want to come back if you’re claiming we didn’t treat you properly” and things along those lines. She was arguing with him and basically did the phone equivalent of a shrug and refused to let him return. I feel, personally, this is because they know they messed up and that my fiance and I are advocates for fair and correct treatment (for everyone, not just us) so they don’t want to be called out again for not doing their jobs properly. All of this being said, I’d say here’s my summary — the detox team themselves are great (minus the doctor). The intake workers and front desk staff clearly don’t like their job and lack the compassion and patience it takes to work in this type of setting. It could be worth a try for you, but BE CAREFUL and BE STRONG. Advocate for yourself, always!

J Rose