Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

News 12 “Heroin: Addicted on LI Follow Up”

LICADD is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in both Nassau and Suffolk County. Our primary mission is to help individuals and families who are struggling with substance use and related issues.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us!

114 Old Country Rd, Suite 114 2805 Vets Memorial Hwy, Suite 26Mineola, NY Ronkonkoma 516-747-2606 631-979-1700

What Are The Top WarningSigns Parents Should Look For To Know If Their ChildIs Using or Is Addicted To

Heroin?

1.Decline in school work and grades2.Abrupt change in friends, groups, or actions3.Sleeping habits & abnormal health issues4.Deteriorating relationships with family5.Less open and honest6.Money problems7.Major changes in mood

Warning Signs

The Substance Use Progression

Abstinence Infrequent use Early abuse Abuse Dependence

Intensive Treatment

Drug Involvement

Brief intervention:Schools, courts, pediatric clinics, emergency rooms, mental health clinics

Adapted from Broadening the Base of Alcohol Treatment (IOM)

BI as supplementaltherapy

How can someone get help If they suspect their child is using heroin? What kind of

help is available?

Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (LICADD):www.licadd.org

516-747-2606 or 1-800-585-5422 National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)

www.ncadd.org800-622-2255

Long Island Counseling Center 516-679-1111

Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline Nassau County: 516-292-3045

Narcotics Anonymous Nassau County:516-827-9500

Where To Get Help

Rehab – There are various types of rehab:Inpatient treatment: Provided in special units of hospital or medical clinics for short-long terms residential treatment anywhere between 1 week to a couple of months.Residential programs: Provide a living environment with treatment services for long-term care. These programs have phases of treatment, with different expectations and activities during each phase. Partial hospitalization: Programs provided by hospitals and free-standing clinics. Patient attends 4-8 hours a day but lives at home.Intensive outpatient treatment: Programs require 9-20 hours of treatment activities per week at the site and patients are enrolled anywhere between 2 months to a year. Outpatient programs: Provide treatment at the program site 1-2 times a week and patients are enrolled anywhere between 1 month to a year. This is best for clients who have a supportive family and friends social system.

What actually happens when a person goes into treatment is that they will be assessed by a professional medical and mental health team for the person’s individual needs. It is important that

treatment address the whole person. Therefore, a medical team and the individual create a treatment plan together to develop an approach based on the patients needs. In rehab this includes medication

prescriptions, group and individual counseling, individual assignments, education series, life skills training, relapse prevention trainings, orientation to self-help groups.

What is Rehab?

• Detox - When a person is dependent on a substance their body goes into withdrawal when that substance is not in their body. If a person is addicted to heroin or prescription pain pills they would need to enter a detox program, like a hospital. In medical settings, medications are used to treat withdrawal because patients experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. Medications help the patients bare the uncomfortable side effects of chemical dependency and to help the brain gradually adapt to the absence of the abused drugs.

What is Detox?

What Can Parents And The Patient Expect Out Of

Rehab?

• Recovery• The transition/stabilization phase usually occurs within the first 90 days of recovery, as a person realizes his or her

coping mechanisms are no longer helpful and begins the recovery process. • The early recovery phase generally occurs between 90 days and one year, when a person begins to integrate the

initial changes in thinking, feeling and action into his or her life. During these first two early recovery phases, a person may attend self-help meetings; mutual assistance meetings, work with a counselor or therapist, or a recovery coach; participate in recovery group therapy; and/or connect with recovery-supportive friends; and/or connect with a faith institution and/or recovery community center. Early recovery has to be sustained and solidified to move into the mid-recovery phase.

• The mid-recovery phase occurs after early recovery is stabilized and solidified. It often occurs after approximately one to three years. It is often at this time when the person in recovery may choose to address past issues while establishing a balanced and stable life. A person in this phase of recovery is usually well connected with a recovery-supportive social network and may be involved in individual and/or group counseling with a qualified therapist to address past issues.

• The maintenance phase, occurs after about three years of recovery, and it is at this point the process of recovery typically becomes a way of life. A recovering person has accomplished major changes on the physical, mental and spiritual levels, and he or she may now choose to focus on personal interests and ambitions. At this phase of recovery, a person often finds it helpful to reach out to support others on their journey of recovery.

• The sustained recovery phase occurs as the person masters the skills to maintain recovery and to continue to pursue health and wellness. Statistically, the risk of return to active addiction is minimal after five or more years. Although sustained recovery has not been studied to any great extent, we do have access to stories of inspiration and hope from individuals and families and communities that were lost and re-emerged in strength, humility and wisdom

• Reference: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/recovery/whatis.cfm

-Getting an addicted person to stop abusing drugs is one part of a long and complex recovery process. When people enter

treatment, addiction has often taken over their lives. The compulsion to get and take drugs, and the experience the

effects of drugs has dominated their every waking moment. -Addiction is a treatable disease. Discoveries in the science of

addiction have led to advances in drug abuse treatment. Addiction doesn’t mean a life sentence. Like other chronic disease, addition can be managed successfully. Treatment

enables people to counteract the powerful, disruptive effects that addiction has on the brain and behavior in order to

regain control of lives.

Will Rehab “Fix” The Problem?

• Self pay and/or insurance• Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)

HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 • Insurance Parity Law - The parity law requires health insurance plans

that cover mental health & substance use disorder benefits to cover them equally (at “parity”) with other medical & surgical benefits. This means that it should no longer be more difficult for a person to have their addiction treatment covered by health insurance.

Treatment Payments and Insurance Options

4 Major Dimensions That Support a Life in Recovery:• Health—overcoming or managing one’s disease or symptoms—for example, abstaining from use

of heroin and other illicit drugs, for everyone in recovery, making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being

• Home—having a stable and safe place to live• Purpose—conducting meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family

caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society

• Community—having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope

Samhsa.gov

Recovery

• Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD): www.licadd.org or 516-747-2606o Family Education serieso Family support groupso Relapse Prevention group

• Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline Nassau County: 516-292-3045o Open AA Meetingso Alateeno Al-Anon

• Narcotics Anonymous Nassau County: 516-827-9500o Nar-Anon

• Families Anonymous

What To Do If a Relapse Occurs