Substance abuse treatment Pennsylvania

What Substance Use Disorder Is

Substance use disorder is considered a chronic brain disease because it causes changes in the brain that can be long-lasting. This means people who are recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) are at risk for using substances again, even after years of not using them. Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, and whether or not someone develops SUD depends on many factors, including genetic and environmental factors.

A person with a substance use disorder cannot stop using a drug even when it causes health problems, problems at work or school, and relationship issues. They also crave the drug and suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it. These signs indicate that a person has a substance use disorder. The severity of the disorder is based on the number and type of these symptoms.

Signs That Treatment May Be Needed

Treatment may be needed when someone cannot stop using substances even though they want to, or if substance use causes problems for themselves, their family, or others. Treatment can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.

Common signs that a person needs substance abuse treatment include:

• Continued substance use despite negative consequences
• Problems with work or school because of substance misuse
• Neglecting responsibilities at home, such as missing appointments or neglecting the care of children or pets
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using substances, such as nausea, sweating, insomnia, and anxiety
• Developing a physical tolerance to substances, which means more are needed to achieve the same effect

Common warning signs that treatment may be needed: Withdrawal or cravings: When you quit using a substance, you may feel physical symptoms, such as shaking, sweating, headaches, nausea, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, or depression. You may also have strong urges to use again. Continued use of substances despite negative consequences: People with substance use problems often continue to use even though it has caused them serious problems at work, home, school, or in relationships. Neglecting responsibilities: Problems with using drugs or alcohol can lead you to neglect your personal, family, and job responsibilities. Loss of control: You may have a hard time controlling how much or how often you use substances.

In general, people begin to notice problems when an individual's substance use begins interfering with his or her daily life. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following situations related to a substance (including alcohol), it is likely time for treatment:

• Problems at school or work
• Neglecting personal responsibilities such as household chores and child care
• Having legal problems because of drug use
• Social problems, including arguments with family members and friends or becoming isolated from others
• Taking risks while using a substance, including having unprotected sex

Screening and Assessment

Screening checks for emergency needs before services are provided. During screening, an individual shares basic information about their use. Screening also gathers information about the need for medical attention, prenatal care, psychiatric treatment, or withdrawal management services.

Assessment evaluates the strengths, preferences, limitations, problems, and needs of an individual seeking substance abuse treatment. Assessment identifies priority areas for treatment services through a comprehensive review of six dimensions of assessment criteria.

A licensed clinician conducts an assessment to determine if an individual is suffering from a substance use disorder and to identify which level of care (LOC) would best meet the individual's needs.

An assessment is more in-depth than screening, and it helps a counselor understand each person's unique treatment needs. The counselor uses information from the assessment to develop the person's treatment plan.

The purpose of screening is to determine your need for emergent care services (withdrawal management, prenatal, psychiatric) and other services or to motivate or refer an individual for a level of care assessment.

A LOCA will help determine:

• Which level of care is right.
• What type of services are needed at this time.
• Which services are appropriate for your diagnosis, history, physical, mental, and social health.

The assessment can occur within seven days of the initial contact with the person. The ASAM Summary is valid for six months after an assessment has been completed.

How Pennsylvania Uses the ASAM Criteria

The ASAM criteria are used to determine placement in a level of care in Pennsylvania.

The following factors are considered in the ASAM level of care:

• Acute Intoxication and/or Withdrawal Potential
• Biomedical Conditions and Complications
• Emotional, Behavioral, or Cognitive Conditions and Complications
• Readiness to Change
• Relapse, Continued Use, or Continued Problem Potential
• Recovery/Living Environment

ASAM levels include the following:

• Level 1 – Outpatient Treatment. This is usually provided on an individual basis and/or using group therapy.
• Level 2.1 – Intensive Outpatient Treatment. This level includes 9 to 19 hours of clinically directed structured services per week. It provides a higher level of clinical service than level 1 but with less intensity than levels 2.5 and 3.1 through 3.7.
• Level 2.5 – Partial Hospitalization. This level provides more than 20 hours of clinically intensive programming per week in a structured setting, usually including both group therapy and individual counseling.
• Level 3.1 – Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential Treatment. This level includes non-hospital residential programs with licensed staff providing structured counseling, employment assistance and other services.

Building a Treatment Plan

Treatment plans change as a person's needs change, so the plan should be reviewed regularly with the patient. The patient will likely contribute to developing the plan, but an expert in treating substance use disorders should take the lead.

Treatment plans can cover many aspects of a person's life, including:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Living environment (such as where to live)
• Education
• Employment
• Family or relationships
• Social activities
• Legal issues

The most effective treatment often involves a combination of individual and family therapy along with other approaches. These approaches can include:

• Individual or group counseling
• Support groups
• Medical care or medication for withdrawal symptoms
• Educational classes on relapse prevention
• Job training, skills, or education
• Mental health treatment (if needed)
• Housing services

A person's recovery team may consist of a doctor, therapist(s), family and friends, support group members, and others. The team usually meets regularly to set goals and monitor progress.

Your treatment plan will be based on the evaluation you receive at your initial assessment, but it can be changed as necessary to meet your changing needs throughout treatment and recovery. Your treatment plan should include:

• Goals for treatment and recovery
• A list of what services and treatments are included in your care plan
• How long you need to stay in treatment
• What will happen when you complete treatment

You should ask whether the treatment plan is based on a comprehensive, individualized evaluation that uses an assessment tool such as the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders. You should also discuss how you will be involved in making decisions about your care and whether there are services that can help you when you leave treatment.

Types of Treatment Services

Counseling, medicines, and residential programs are used to treat substance abuse. The best treatment program for each person is different depending on personal needs and preferences. Research shows that a combination of counseling and medicines is more effective than either alone.

Counseling can help people explore the many parts of their lives and how they are influenced by each other. During counseling sessions, you will work with a counselor or therapist to change your behaviors and habits. The goal is to change thoughts and actions that lead to substance abuse.

Inpatient Hospitalization: This is an option for people who have severe addictions and need medical attention or 24-hour supervision because of withdrawal symptoms from drugs or alcohol.

Types of treatment for drug addiction include behavioral therapies (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing), medications, and residential and outpatient services.

Treatment for substance use disorder may include medication-assisted treatment, behavioral therapy, support groups, and individual counseling. The goal of this treatment is to help people manage their addictions and stop using drugs or alcohol. It also aims to prevent relapse by giving patients the skills they need to cope with life without substances.

Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults

Treatment for adolescent drug abuse typically involves a combination of individual, group, and family therapy, supplemented by peer support and case management. Most adolescent substance abusers also need help with other social problems, including poor school performance, mental illness, delinquency, physical or sexual abuse, and so on. Thus, treatment programs should be comprehensive enough to address the full range of these problems.

Adolescent substance use treatment needs differ from adult treatment and should be tailored to match adolescent developmental level. This includes addressing family interactions and peer relationships, as well as developing healthy skills for future life challenges and problems.

Funding for Substance Abuse Treatment in Pennsylvania

Medical Assistance, private insurance, and county funding are all methods of paying for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Medical assistance is a joint federal-state program that helps individuals and families receive health care benefits. It's administered by the Department of Human Services and the state's county assistance offices (CAOs). The CAOs determine eligibility for medical assistance (MA), which includes Medicaid.

If you need financial assistance, you can apply for it through your local SCA. This funding may be available to you if you are a Pennsylvania resident who does not have insurance or Medicaid and cannot afford treatment. However, the amount of money available through these funds is limited. If you're in need of financial help, it's important that you complete the application as soon as possible.

In Pennsylvania, your medical insurance may provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment if you are enrolled in a plan that includes these benefits.

For those who are experiencing a substance abuse problem but have no insurance coverage or any other source of funding, there is a possibility that they can receive some financial assistance through their local Single County Authority (SCA). The authority coordinates and manages both prevention and intervention programs as well as treatment services. They also manage the distribution of federal and state funding for those who need financial assistance to cover the cost of their treatment.

Where to Start

Your Single County Authority can assess and refer for other services, including emergency detoxification and hospitalization, outpatient, residential, and inpatient treatment, and recovery support services. SCA staff will work with you to identify resources that are best suited to address your needs and concerns.

If you live in Pennsylvania, the first place to start looking for addiction treatment is your Single County Authority (SCA), also known as the local drug and alcohol resource office.

SCAs provide a variety of services for people in need of drug and alcohol prevention, intervention, and treatment. These include:

• Screening
• Level of care assessment
• Referral
• Education
• Prevention
• Training

Referrals may then be made to different levels of care, including outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential rehabilitation.

Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all economic levels, including those who are employed with private insurance. If you have private health insurance, your provider should cover a portion of your treatment costs; however, the amount covered depends on your specific plan. To be sure, you should check with your provider to determine what services are covered.

Substance abuse treatment by Pennsylvania city

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