How to Get Substance Abuse Treatment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 23.6 million people in 2006 age 12 and older needed treatment for drugs or alcohol abuse. Whatever the causes, if you are experiencing a problem with substance abuse or concerned about a loved one dealing with drug addiction, seeking professional help is the first step in recovery.

Instructions

Getting Help

• 1

  Contact Narcotics Anonymous (see Resources). From the NA website: "NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs have become a problem." NA consists of group meetings where people can share their experiences in the recovery process. The literature suggests that if you don't have a serious problem with drug addiction, you should look for an "open meeting." Open meetings are for anyone to attend, addicts or nonaddicts. To get help with finding a meeting, go to the NA website and click on option 1. Also, read through the information about NA that is available on the site. There are no membership or dues. NA meetings are not considered classes or therapy. Meetings range from group discussion to having a featured speaker.

• 2

  CSAT-Center for Substance Abuse/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. If you are looking for residential or outpatient substance abuse treatment, contact the CSAT. The CSAT (part of SAMHSA) assists individuals and families with locating treatment programs in their community. The two organizations work in tandem to support the recovery of substance abusers. From the CSAT site, click on the SAMHSA's substance abuse treatment locator. The link will take you to an interactive map. Just click on you state to find a substance abuse program in your area. The locater is updated regularly.

• 3

  Medication in Conjunction with Treatment. Consult with your treatment team about medication management. The use of medication such as buprenophine (treatment for opioid addiction) is becoming a common approach used in the treatment of drug addiction. According to NIDA research, medication can help suppress the withdrawal symptoms and craving commonly associated with detoxification. Medication alone is not a cure-all or substitute for behavioral modification, but it can help a person maintain sobriety.

• 4

  Before deciding on the right treatment program, ask yourself some important questions. What kind of treatment program or approach is suitable to my needs? If substance abuse has interfered with your employment, severely affected your relationships or caused legal problems, you might consider a more intensive program such as residential treatment. Or maybe your needs would be best suited to an outpatient program. Also, if you have a co-occurring mental or medical illness, make sure to find a treatment program that will not only address your drug addiction but your secondary issues as well. Lastly, understand that each individual is different and your treatment decisions must be based on your overall needs.