McLean Hospital is looking to settle into the Town of Camden, put down roots, become a vital member of the community and build upon its reputation as a leader in the field of mental health and substance abuse treatment.

For more than 200 years, McLean has set the standard for mental health facilities across the country — developing new treatments, setting policies and, most important, providing unparalleled treatment. In a recent Boston Globe article, McLean Hospital was referred to as the “Gold Standard” for psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment and, in July 2013, it was named the nation’s No. 1 hospital for psychiatric care by US News & World Report.

According to a New York Times piece published on Sept. 15, opportunists in Malibu, Calif., are scrambling to purchase properties and convert them into alcohol and drug treatment centers.

This article comes at an opportune time because a proposal is currently being put before the planning board here in Camden to open a residential alcohol and related drug treatment facility at the Fox Hill Estate on Bay View Street.

Neighbors challenging the proposal have distributed printed copies of the Times article in what seems to be an effort to align the proposed treatment center at Fox Hill with the facilities in Malibu. Fortunately, even the casual reader will quickly recognize that the only thing the proposed Camden program has in common with the referenced Malibu treatment facilities is the serene view available in both settings.

I think we can all agree that California differs from Maine in so many ways, one of which is the sharp growth curve of its rehab industry: sheer demand for services among the local population (i.e., Hollywood) has incentivized a number of new facilities to open doors, leaving state regulators scrambling to effectively monitor them.

By stark contrast, the 12-bed facility proposed for Fox Hill in Camden will be fully licensed by State of Maine regulatory agencies and the residential rehabilitation center and be operated by McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Renowned since the early 1800s as a leader in the treatment of chemical dependency and mental illness, McLean has as much in common with the aforementioned Malibu facilities as a symphony orchestra has with a garage band.

Neighbors of an existing McLean facility, Fernside, which opened its doors in an historic section of Princeton, Mass., six years ago, attest to the Hospital’s professionalism and discretion. James Lachance, a former planning board member, describes the town’s experience with McLean as “entirely positive,” noting that the nature of the work being done is “absolutely imperceptible from the outside and I have no knowledge of the identities of people treated there.” John Lebeaux, the town administrator, calls McLean an asset to the community — “a good and quiet neighbor” placing little demand on community resources.

The treatment center at Fox Hill would not be marketed to celebrities looking to clean up their images, nor would it seek their endorsements. There would be no signage, no lurking paparazzi, nor would any disclosure of residents’ identities be tolerated. In fact, clients are not accepted at McLean if they publicly disclose they are going to treatment.

McLean Hospital has been engrained in the fabric of the communities in which it operates since 1811.  What it will build at Fox Hill is a private, serious, evidence-based program that provides world-class care — a program built on a solid foundation viewed with pride by the local community. The benefits of McLean at Fox Hill aren’t limited to the confines of the estate. With its presence in Camden, McLean will be in a position to help address local needs by partnering with schools, hospitals and mental health organizations.  The area will also gain opportunities for residents’ to secure good, stable jobs and as much as a $6.6 million increase in economic activity.

Philip G. Levendusky is senior vice president, business development; director, psychology department’ codirector, psychology training at McLean Hospital; and associate professor at Harvard Medical School.