Substance abuse help
How
to get help
How
do I get help if I have a problem with alcohol or other substances?
Overcoming
an addiction to alcohol/drugs can be a long and bumpy road. At times,
it may even feel impossible. But it’s not. If you’re ready to
stop drinking/using and willing to get the support you need, you can
recover from alcohol/drug use—no matter how bad the addiction or
how powerless you feel. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock
bottom; you can make a change at any time. The important thing is to
understand you do not have to do this alone. For many, the power of
shame has kept them in the vicious addictive cycle. Contacting your
Employee Assistance Program, call your local Alcoholics or Narcotics
Anonymous support group, check the web for online AA-NA meetings,
speak with your healthcare provider, minister, or local treatment
center.
Help
for the family
Alcoholism
and addiction affects everyone in the family, often times it can be
seen through several generations with in a family system. It is a
health problem – a physical and emotional disease rather than an
issue of little willpower or moral weakness.
What
can you do as a loved one or concerned friend?
Contact
your Employee Assistance Program and speak with a counselor, contact
Alanon or Nar-Anon or Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous
What
is Al-Anon?
The
Al-Anon Family groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of
alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order
to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family
illness, and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.
Al-Anon
is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity,
organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy,
neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for
membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary
contributions.
Who
can join Al-Anon?
Al-Anon
membership is open to anyone who is affected by someone else's
drinking. The only requirement for membership is that there is a
problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
What
does Al-Anon do?
Al-Anon
has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. Al-Anon members
do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving
comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and
encouragement to the alcoholic.
What
is Nar-Anon?
The
Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected
by someone else’s addiction. It is Twelve-Step Program, offering
help by sharing experience, strength, and hope. The only requirement
for membership is that there is a problem of addiction in a relative
or friend.
Nar-Anon
members are relatives and friends who are concerned about the
addiction or drug problem of another. Nar-Anon's program of recovery
is adapted from Narcotics Anonymous and uses Nar-Anon's Twelve Steps,
Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Service.
What
is a Nar-Anon family group?
The
Nar-Anon Family Group is for those who know or have known a
feeling of desperation due to the addiction problem of someone close
to them. Nar-Anon members share the experiences, strength, and hope
at meetings. The meetings are usually held at locations such as
treatment centers, hospitals, churches, community centers, or local
twelve-step clubs.
Nar-Anon's
purpose
Nar-Anon
is a twelve-step program designed to help relatives and friends of
addicts recover from the effects of coping with an addicted relative
or friend. Nar-Anon's program of recovery uses Nar-Anon's Twelve
Steps and Twelve Traditions. The only requirement to be a member and
attend Nar-Anon meetings is that there is a problem of drugs or
addiction in a relative or friend. Nar-Anon is not affiliated with
any other organization or outside entity.
For
further information regarding these programs which are free of charge
and self supporting, please contact your Employee Assistance
Program. Al-Anon Family groups and Nar-Anon also both have websites which can
help you locate a meeting, or find phone numbers to get help now.