October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. The efforts of many organizations, professionals and individuals to prevent young people from starting to misuse substances are invaluable and make a powerful difference.
But what happens when you are past the prevention stage and now are really looking for an intervention and treatment strategy? Where do you find help?
The good news is there are many resources available and everyone in your community can play a role in promoting treatment.
If you are an employer, start here:
- POST THIS NUMBER 1-877-266-HELP (4357) for your employees to call if they have a substance misuse problem.
- Have materials regarding signs and symptoms of substance abuse and assistance and treatment available in your breakroom and common areas. It may not be your employee who is struggling, but someone they care about.
- Include the topic of substance misuse in your regular safety meetings. Normalize the discussion, keeping shame and judgment out of it so the individual who may be struggling or their coworkers can feel comfortable about approaching you if there is an issue.
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment, start here:
You have various options to consider depending on your needs, your insurance coverage and your budget. Before you make any decisions, be sure that you understand the types of treatment programs that are available. Here is a helpful list developed by the Partnership to End Addiction website:
Outpatient
Low to Medium Intensity
Clients typically attend no more than nine hours of treatment a week (slightly less for teens) at a specialty facility while continuing to live at home. Many programs make services available in the evenings and on weekends so individuals can remain in school or continue to work.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Medium to High Intensity
Clients attend 10-20 hours of treatment a week (slightly less for teens) at a specialty facility while continuing to live at home. Many programs make services available in the evenings and on weekends so individuals can continue to work or stay in school. This is a better option for individuals with accompanying medical or psychological issues who need multiple services, or have not been successful in outpatient treatment.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Medium to High Intensity
Clients attend four to eight hours of treatment a day (20 or more a week) while continuing to live at home. Most families use these types of addiction treatment programs when their child needs an intensive and structured experience. Day treatment can be appropriate for individuals with co-occurring mental illness.
Residential (rehab)
Medium to High Intensity
These programs provide treatment in a residential setting and can last from one month to a year. Typically, residents go through different phases as they progress through the program.
Inpatient
High Intensity
Treatment provided in specialty units of hospitals or medical clinics offering both detox and rehabilitation services. Typically used for people with serious medical conditions or mental disorders.
Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)
For individuals with a physical dependency on certain substances, primarily heroin and other opioids, medication is provided in a specialized outpatient setting in combination with counseling and other treatment services.
Find Treatment
There are a number of databases for substance abuse treatment providers. These include:
If you are seeking treatment for your child, start here:
The Partnership to End Addiction provides two valuable free resources to look at before you begin your search:
Certainly, you should talk to your healthcare provider as you begin researching. They can walk you through an initial assessment of needs and will likely have information about local treatment options.