
Individuals over the age of 65 who need substance abuse treatment can find programs across the nation that offer specialized services, including counseling, case management, and family therapy. Medical Professionals Doctors and nurses have some of the highest rates of drug and alcohol abuse among the professional workforce.
Full Answer
What are the best resources to learn more about drug addiction?
Some of the most popular and well-known drug addiction resource websites include: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — The NIDA's mission is to, "advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health."
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter medications, and the use of illegal drugs. Find treatment and recovery services for substance abuse and learn how to prevent drug and alcohol problems. Alcohol and drug addiction can happen to anyone at any age.
Where can I get help with drug and alcohol abuse?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers these services to help with drug and alcohol abuse: Call SAMHSA's national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357). This treatment referral and information service is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English and Spanish.
Who needs substance abuse treatment after age 65?
Individuals over the age of 65 who need substance abuse treatment can find programs across the nation that offer specialized services, including counseling, case management, and family therapy. Doctors and nurses have some of the highest rates of drug and alcohol abuse among the professional workforce.

What resources are available for addicts?
Browse the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) who offers free publications on addiction treatment and prevention for children and families. Visit The Opioid Response Network providing free educational resources to individuals in the prevention, treatment and recovery of opioid use disorders and stimulant use.
What treatments are available for people with drug use disorders?
What are treatments for drug addiction?behavioral counseling.medication.medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.long-term follow-up to prevent relapse.
What strategies are used to prevent substance use and abuse?
What are the Basic Prevention Strategies?Information Dissemination. ... Prevention Education. ... Alternatives. ... Problem Identification and Referral. ... Community-Based Process. ... Environmental Approach.
What is the most effective treatment for substance use disorders?
Talk therapy (counseling) is the most commonly used treatment for substance misuse. Therapy is a treatment that helps people with emotional, physical, and mental health problems function better.
What is a treatment plan for substance abuse?
A substance abuse treatment plan is an individualized, written document that details a client's goals and objectives, the steps need to achieve those, and a timeline for treatment. These plans are mutually agreed upon with the client and the clinician.
What is management of drug abuse?
Means 'reducing harm from drugs even more. important than reducing drug consumption'
How can the community solve drug abuse?
Consult with community leaders, RWA's, Panchayat and other organisations working in drug abuse prevention, treatment, law enforcement, mental health, and related areas; Assess community awareness of the problem; and. Identify existing prevention efforts already under way to address the problem.
What are some examples of prevention programs?
Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents (In Brief) Universal ProgramsCaring School Community Program (Formerly, Child Development Project). ... Classroom-Centered (CC) and Family-School Partnership (FSP) Intervention. ... Guiding Good Choices (GGC) (Formerly, Preparing for the Drug-Free Years).More items...
What are two practical strategies that could be implemented by the community to ensure that the anti substance abuse campaigns are effective?
Two practical strategies for community to ensure anti substance campaign are mass awareness and provide financial support.
How should a patient's treatment plan be developed?
Treatment plans usually follow a simple format and typically include the following information: The patient's personal information, psychological history and demographics. A diagnosis of the current mental health problem. High-priority treatment goals.
What is the first step in treating a drug abuse problem?
Detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. This involves clearing a substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions. In 80 percent of cases, a treatment clinic will use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
How can we prevent drug abuse in youth?
Consider other strategies to prevent teen drug abuse:Know your teen's activities. Pay attention to your teen's whereabouts. ... Establish rules and consequences. ... Know your teen's friends. ... Keep track of prescription drugs. ... Provide support. ... Set a good example.
What is the most popular drug addiction resource?
Some of the most popular and well-known drug addiction resource websites include: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — The NIDA's mission is to, "advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.". They are the national leader in scientific research ...
What is Women for Sobriety?
Women for Sobriety — this self-help group was founded in 1975. It is dedicated to helping those who identify as female in their addiction recovery journey. Staging an Intervention — An intervention is a way for loved ones to show their concern and support for someone suffering from addiction.
Popular Resources
Created for tribal use by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Native-Specific Organizations
Indian Health Service Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Strives to reduce alcohol and substance use through treatment and rehabilitation services in tribal communities and urban settings.
Other Substance Use Disorder Organizations
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Leads a national effort to address alcohol-related issues.
Native-Specific Research
Drum-Assisted Recovery Therapy for Native Americans – 2013 (PDF | 908 KB) Examines drumming as a substance use intervention for Native Americans.
Substance Use Disorder Tools and Campaigns
I Strengthen My Nation Campaign (link is external) Empowers youth to resist substance use.
How to contact a counselor about substance abuse?
If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance abuse, find help today. Call our hotline at 1-888-319-2606 Helpline Information to speak with a treatment support advisor about finding the right type of addiction treatment for you.
What is inpatient addiction treatment?
Inpatient addiction treatment takes place in a residential setting. Patients stay at the facility for the duration of treatment, which allows them to escape temptations and triggers at home and focus on recovery.
What is detox center?
Detox Center. Detox centers help people during the detoxification or detox stage of addiction treatment. Detox is the process of remaining abstinent until the substance has cleared the body. It is the first step toward recovery.
What is outpatient treatment?
Outpatient treatment is a type of substance abuse program that allows an individual to continue living at home throughout addiction treatment . These programs require regular check-ins for individual or group treatment sessions, so patients must be self-motivated and committed to recovery.
What is luxury residential treatment?
Luxury residential treatment is a more lavish inpatient experience, complete with amenities such as a pool, spa, yoga classes, or acupuncture. Executive inpatient programs] are similar to luxury programs, link with privacy and the option to continue working while at the facility.
What is medication assisted treatment?
Medication-Assisted Treatment. Medication-assisted treatment can help patients manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Some of the medications approved to treat substance dependence have special properties or are formulated to prevent abuse of the drugs themselves, as well as abuse of the substance being treated.
What is a 12 step program?
Twelve-step programs are free recovery programs organized and operated by former substance users. These programs focus on building a community of support. Many in 12-step recovery embrace spirituality while working through the 12 steps. Several programs are modeled on the 12-step philosophy, and they include:
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter medications, and the use of illegal drugs. Find treatment and recovery services for substance abuse and learn how to prevent drug and alcohol problems.
How to contact the VA about substance abuse?
Contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online with a VA responder, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Why is mental health important?
Mental health is as important as physical health. It includes your emotional, psychological, and social well being. Mental illnesses are serious disorders that can affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. There are many factors that can contribute to these disorders. They include genes, family history, and life experiences.
What is an alateen?
Find a meeting in your area. Alateen is part of the Al-Anon safe group and offers help for teens dealing with a parent’s alcohol abuse. Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) assists people who want to stop abusing prescription or illegal drugs.
What are the factors that contribute to mental health?
Many factors can contribute to these disorders. These factors can include genes, family history, and life experiences. These government services can help you find someone to talk to, treatment options, and information on a wide range of mental health issues. Open All +.
How to contact SAMHSA?
Call SAMHSA's national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP ( 1-800-662-4357 ). This treatment referral and information service is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English and Spanish. It’s for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) assists people who want to stop abusing prescription or illegal drugs. Find a meeting center or online support group by searching for the local helpline or website for the area where the meeting is located. NAR-Anon supports people affected by someone using and abusing drugs.
What is the most misused drug in senior hope?
Most Misused Substances Are Alcohol and Heroin. Alcohol remains the most common drug of misuse among those seeking help at Senior Hope. However, recently the proportion of people admitted to Senior Hope primarily for heroin use has increased from 11% (17 out of 155) in 2014 to 23.1% (six out of 26) so far in 2015, according to OASAS data. ...
Can older adults go to group therapy?
For some older adults with substance use disorders, attending group therapy with many younger adults can be uncomfortable. “Elders are in a different stage of life and grew up in a time when having an addiction or mental illness received a great deal of stigma,” explained Nicole MacFarland, executive director of Senior Hope, Inc.,
Can substance abuse affect housing?
Longtime substance use may also have consequences for the individual’s family and housing status. For example, a 67-year-old man with an alcohol use disorder may turn to a local homeless shelter after divorcing and losing his job. Others may move from the home of one family member to another in lieu of permanent housing.
Is substance abuse a public health concern?
Substance abuse in rural and urban areas is a major public health concern. Despite the threat that untreated substance abuse presents to individual health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of the broader community, there remain significant barriers to substance abuse treatment (Appel, Ellison, Jansky, & Oldak, 2004; Pringle, ...
Can family support help with substance abuse?
While support from family and friends can encourage entry into treatment and sustained sobriety, it is clear that in rural communities where substance abuse may have become an unfortunate family legacy, it can present a major barrier to treatment interventions.

National Agencies
Selected Nida Educational Resources on Drug Addiction Treatment
- Blending products. NIDA's Blending Initiative—a joint venture with SAMHSA and its nationwide network of Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs)—uses "Blending Teams" of community practitioners, SAMHSA trainers, and NIDA researchers to create products and devise strategic dissemination plans for them. Completed products include those that address the valu…
Initiatives Designed to Move Treatment Research Into Practice
- Clinical Trials Network
Assessing the real-world effectiveness of evidence-based treatments is a crucial step in bringing research to practice. Established in 1999, NIDA’s National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) uses community settings with diverse patient populations and conditions to adju… - Criminal Justice-Drug Abuse Treatment Studies
NIDA is taking an approach similar to the CTN to enhance treatment for drug-addicted individuals involved with the criminal justice system through Criminal Justice–Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS).Whereas NIDA’s CTN has as its overriding mission the improvement of the quality of …
Other Federal Resources
- The National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. This database of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders is maintained by SAMHSA and can be accessed at www.samhsa.gov/nrepp. SAMHSA's Store has a wide range of products, including manuals, brochures, videos, and other publications. Phone: 8...
Native-Specific Organizations
Other Substance Use Disorder Organizations
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Leads a national effort to address alcohol-related issues.
Native-Specific Research
- Drum-Assisted Recovery Therapy for Native Americans – 2013 (PDF | 908 KB) Examines drumming as a substance use intervention for Native Americans.
Substance Use Disorder Tools and Campaigns
- I Strengthen My Nation Campaign(link is external) Empowers youth to resist substance use. Tribal Substance Abuse Action Plan – 2015 at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (PDF | 845 KB)(link is external) Aims to reduce substance use among AI/AN through a five-year strategic plan created by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.