IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery – Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Designed by firefighters, for firefighters, the IAFF Center of Excellence is the first facility of its kind. The addiction treatment center near Baltimore exclusively provides care for active and retired members of the International Association of Fire Fighters working through PTSD, substance use, and other behavioral health conditions. Patients stay in firehouse-style accommodations and attend evidence-based therapies including EMDR, CBT, and family counseling.
We compiled this unclaimed profile from public records and licensing data. For specifics on current programs, availability, and admissions, contact the facility directly.
About IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery
Cultural understanding does real clinical work at the IAFF Center of Excellence, which is among the top drug and alcohol rehab centers in Maryland. Staff know fire service culture directly, which changes how patients engage with treatment plans from day one. EMDR is the therapy patients most often single out as transformative, as it addresses the specific kind of cumulative, repeated trauma exposure firefighting and EMS work create.
Treatment intensity adapts to trauma severity. Many patients stay 30 to 60 days depending on need, and medical appointments happen daily during detox before dropping to twice weekly during residential care. Serious mental illness gets full medication management and psychiatric care in addition to therapy. Confidentiality is treated as a structural requirement, too, and staff can’t confirm or deny a patient’s presence to their department, family, or anyone else without explicit consent.
What Makes The IAFF Center of Excellence Unique?
Being purpose-built by and for firefighters is the entire design premise. Firehouse-style housing, peer community, and staff fluent in fire service culture all follow from that founding idea. Absolute confidentiality also carries real weight for this population specifically. Firefighters worried about career consequences for seeking help get an explicit guarantee that their department will not be told without their consent.
Trust Features
- JCAHO
- NAATP
Levels of Care
- Inpatient/Residential
- Medical Detoxification
- Aftercare Support
- Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Mental Health Residential
- Outpatient
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Population(s) Served
- Men
- Women
- Young Adults
- Professionals
- Seniors (65+)
- Men and Women
Treatment Offerings
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Life Skills
- Motivational Interviewing
- Family Therapy
- Trauma Therapy
- Relapse Prevention
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment
- First Responders Program
- Medication Management
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EDMR)
- Psychotherapy
- Case Management Services
- 1-on-1 Counseling
- Individualized Treatment
- Vivitrol Injections
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Payment Options/Accepted Insurance
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
- Optum
- CareFirst
- Aetna
Always verify your specific coverage and confirm directly with the facility. Plans and acceptance may change.
Amenities
- Gym
- Outdoor Activities
- Recreation Room
- Walking Trails
- Access To Nature
- Air-Conditioned Rooms
- Laundry Services
- Private or Shared Rooms
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
Additional Information
- Long-Term Treatment
- Private Rooms
- Professionals
Get Answers About IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery
Active and retired members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, 18 and older, including firefighters, dispatchers, and paramedics.
Yes, completely. Staff cannot discuss your treatment with your fire department, family, or friends unless you give explicit permission, under HIPAA and federal confidentiality protections.
Yes, treatment addresses the complex connections between substance use, mental health, and PTSD at the same time.
See our directory of Maryland’s dual diagnosis treatment centers.
The IAFF Center of Excellence provides medical detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programs.
The Center of Excellence has more than 950 reviews and a 4.9-star rating on Google, as of September 2026. Patients describe the staff as being genuinely knowledgeable about both treatment and the trauma faced by emergency responders. They also credit the facility for saving their lives.
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