How to Get Help for Substance Abuse

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, substance abuse is defined as the addiction to a drug and is influenced by many things, including biology, environment, social development and personal choices. Substance abuse is a serious problem that costs the United States and its citizens nearly $600 billion per year in criminal vandalism and theft, lack of productivity and medical bills. More important, substance abuse often results in personal injury and death. Fortunately, there are treatment centers and recovery programs located all over the United States to help substance abusers gain control of their lives.

Things You'll Need

• Payment for treatment program (cash, check, insurance, government grant)

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit dasis3.samhsa.gov.

• 2

  Click on the state in which you live to open up a search form.

• 3

  Enter the name of the city in which you live in the box labeled "City." Enter the zip code of the city in which you live and your street address into the appropriately labeled boxes (optional). Leave the box labeled "Search Radius" alone.

• 4

  Click on "Continue" to open a new page. The new page lists drug abuse and treatment centers in your area. The names of the centers, address, telephone, website, primary focus and forms of payment accepted are listed for each facility.

• 5

  Research the facilities. Visit their websites and read through their online material. Call their phone number and request information. Some facilities provide pamphlets and printed packets of information. Decide which facility is best for you. Choose a facility that specializes in your individual type of substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescriptions drugs, etc.).

• 6

  Contact the facility and set up a meeting with a counselor. Talk with a counselor and ask about their treatment program. Discuss how you will be treated as patient and what is expected of you; physical examination, psychiatric evaluation, detoxification programs, group therapy, medications, and other factors. Find out everything you can about the facility and its treatment program. You are entrusting your life in their hands, so pick a facility that has people you trust and a program you believe in.

• 7

  Enroll in the treatment program. If the facility requires you to stay on-site during the program, make living arrangements with the staff. Ask what you are allowed to bring with you; pillow, blanket, clothes, toiletries, books, etc. Fill out all necessary paperwork and provide the facility with any documentation it needs, including driver's license, social security card or employment verification.

• 8

  Arrange payments for the treatment program. If you do not want to pay out of pocket, provide the facility with proof of medical insurance. Many facilities accept most major medical insurance, Medicaid and Access to Recovery. Access to Recovery is a grant program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that provides substance abusers with payment vouchers to help them pay for treatment. Visit the Access to Recovery link in the Resources section of this article for more information.

• 9

  Follow the program. Complete the therapy sessions, detoxification programs and treatment exercises that are asked of you. Treatment programs are designed to help you recover from substance abuse, but if you don't put in the work and follow the program's guidelines, the program won't work.