Substance Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment

About Us
Marijuana Alert
CAGE Test
FAQ's
Prevention
County Addiction Service Providers
Safe Homes
Links
Contact Us

About Us

We believe that addiction is a chronic progressive disease that affects the individual and his/her loved ones. Recovery is achieved by abstinence through a regimen of individual and group therapy. We encourage the participation in self-help recovery groups to support long-term abstinence in the ongoing process of recovery.

Services are designed to help individuals and families affected by substance abuse and dependence. Through education and therapy, one is able to recognize and address the physical, psychological, medical, social and vocational effects as the results of substance abuse behaviors.

Rensselaer County has long been an advocate for substance abuse prevention and treatment. There are six programs in the county licensed by the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. They are 820 River Street (residential and supportive living), Conifer Park (outpatient), Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center (day treatment and outpatient), Pahl, Inc. (residential), Seton Health Addiction Services (Inpatient) and Unified Services (outpatient).

The Department of Mental Health, Unified Services operates Drug Free clinics in their Troy and Rensselaer Offices providing the following services:

• Assessment
• Individual, Group and Family Therapy
• Groups: Men and Women
• Referrals: To alternate levels of care and other service providers
• Education
• Psychiatric Evaluations
• Relapse Prevention
• Treatment for the Dually Diagnosed
• Court Evaluations

Services are available for Rensselaer County residents of all ages. Medicaid and most insurance are accepted. Self-pay is determined by a sliding scale fee based on income.

Appointments can be made Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by calling (518) 270-2800.

Marijuana Alert

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug used by young people in this country. Most people don't understand the dangers of using marijuana. Many young people believe it is OK to use because other kids use or they believe the adults in their lives are using or have used marijuana. The marijuana used today is of high potency, addictive and mind altering. It is at least five times stronger then the marijuana of the 1970's and users are over 100 times more likely to go on to other drugs. Kids will often tell you marijuana is 'natural' and safer than tobacco. Well Hello, tobacco is natural too. Marijuana also has many of the same cancer causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in even higher concentrations. Kids also take the risk that the marijuana is laced with another more potent drug.

Marijuana's Harmful Effects Include:

• Academic: Short term memory loss, shorter attention span, poor learning ability.
• Cardiovascular: Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Immunological: Lower ability to fight off infections.
• Legal: Marijuana possession and use is against the law.
• Neurological: Poor coordination and longer reflex time, inability to tract objects.
• Pulmonary: Similar to tobacco re: airway obstruction, coughing and lung cancer.
• Social: Heavy regular users can become fearful, paranoid and lose sight of goals.

Cage Test, Questions You Can Ask

1. Have you ever felt you should Cut Down on you drinking or drug use?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing or complaining about your drinking or drug use?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking or drug use?
4. Have you ever had a drink or drug in the morning (Eye Opener) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
5. Do you use any drugs other than those prescribed by a physician?
6. Has a physician ever told you to cut down or quit use of alcohol or drugs?
7. Has your drinking/drug use caused family problems?
8. When drinking/using drugs have you ever had a memory loss (blackout)?

If you answer "yes" to any of the above questions you may want to consult with an addictions professional listed below.

FAQ's

1. My brother is addicted and refuses treatment what can I do? Chemical Dependency programs are voluntary. Although people are often mandated to treatment through the courts, parole or probation they can terminate treatment at any time. Of course, they will have to deal with the repercussions of the mandating authority but the treatment agency does not force or hold people in treatment against their will. Significant others of persons with addictions can avail themselves to services as well. There are self-help groups within the community and treatment providers often have therapists with experience in assisting significant others and working with them to motivate the addict to seek help.
2. How do I get into treatment? Addiction services are divided into levels of care depending on need. In most cases treatment starts at the least evasive level of care. To start you need to contact an area provider. A brief assessment may be made over the phone to determine appropriateness for treatment. An appointment would follow or a referral to a more appropriate level of care. Once an assessment as been completed the provider will make a diagnosis and level of care determination. That provider may determine they can provide a satisfactory level of care or will refer you to a more appropriate level. The level of care is determined by using a medically approved list of criteria and agreed upon by a multi-disciplinary team of qualified health professionals.
3. My counselor is a man but I'd feel more comfortable working with a woman, what can I do? Many people enter treatment accepting what they are given or told. If you have special needs of concerns you can make them known to the provider at the time you call for an appointment or when you meet with the therapist for your initial appointment. Most providers are sensitive to your needs and if they don't agree with you they will explain their reasons.
4. Why should I go to self-help groups? Recovery is an ongoing process and building a network of community supports through recovery groups [go to links] is the most proven way to maintain long-term abstinence.
5. I can't afford treatment, what can I do? Contact you local provider and inform them of your situation. Most programs offer a sliding scale fee. Most will also be able to advise you if you're eligible for Medicaid or Child and Family Health plus. New York State [go to Links] also operates several inpatient facilities with adjustable rates.
6. What can I do to prevent my teenager from smoking marijuana? Encourage your teenager to talk with you, talk about marijuana facts, reasons not to smoke and ways to avoid using marijuana in difficult situations, ask open ended questions, control you own emotions, do not support marijuana or alcohol use, develop family rules about teen drug use and the consequences if they use, connect with other parents (Safe Homes) [link to safe homes], keep track of your child's activities - are they where they said they said they would be?
7. Is it all right to serve or provide alcohol in my house to teenagers? Drinking under the age of 21 is against the law; drug use is against the law at any age, providing alcohol or drugs to minors is a criminal offense. Parents can be sued for damages and injuries caused by underage individuals they serve. In other words, you may be sued for their actions and accidents. The adult is held responsible, not the underage drinker.

Questions - E-mail: Click Here

Prevention

The County provides a wide variety of prevention services, which include student, assistance and prevention programs in over ten schools.

Prevention (SAPEP)

The Student Assistance Prevention Education Program has 6 staff providing substance abuse prevention activities in elementary schools. Services include curriculum presentations, assessments, group counseling, referrals and crisis intervention. This program is funded through New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and schools.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)

Currently operating in 8 school districts, the Student Assistance Program provides short term individual and group counseling, assessment, crisis intervention and referral. Services also include educational presentations, and consultation with parents, school staff and related community individuals. This program is funded through New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and schools.

Underage Drinking Coalition

The County Underage Drinking Coalition was formed to create a linkage between schools, treatment providers and county human service departments to reduce substance abuse among our youth. The Coalition has held Youth Summits to teach youth about substance abuse initiatives. Law enforcement members of the Coalition have performed DWI sweeps, compliance checks and have done party patrols to break up underage drinking/drug parties. Merchant trainings have been done to educate merchants and bar owners on how to protect themselves against underage purchasers. The Coalition has issues press releases, designed billboards and met with the press about issues of marijuana and alcohol use by youth in our community. The Coalition supports and provides information regarding SAFE HOMES.

Licensed Programs

The New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services has licensed the following programs to provide treatment within Rensselaer County:

Safe Homes

SAFE HOMES is a nationwide parent pledge program. It is simply a public agreement between parents to provide a genuinely safer world. Alcohol and drug use by teen is a problem in Rensselaer County. Many teens use because they thing everyone else does. Many teens do not use alcohol or other drugs and most would prefer not to use them. Having parents who inform their youth of the consequences of using and of their family beliefs around the use of alcohol and other drugs helps to deter use.

In doing nothing, we condone drinking and drug use. Instead of ignoring the problem, we must show our youth that we care enough to stand together.

SAFE HOMES parents…..agree that we will cooperate with schools, law enforcement and young people to create a healthy atmosphere in which the use of alcohol and other drugs by youth in no longer considered the "norm". In order to this we agree to do the following with regard to our underage youth:

• I will not allow anyone under the legal drinking age to consume alcohol in my home or on my property.
• I will not allow the use of illegal drugs in my home or on my property
• I will not allow parties or gatherings in my home without proper adult supervision
• I will call to make sure adult supervision is present at all parties and gatherings my youth attends.
• I welcome calls from other parents asking if I will be home and supervising when their child is coming to my home.

For more information call (518) 270-2821.

Links

General

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
www.al-anon.alateen.org
www.ca.org (Cocaine Anonymous)
www.na.org (Narcotics Anonymous)
www.drugabuse.gov
www.ama.aasn.org
www.hazelden.com
www.jointogether.org
www.samhsa.gov

Legal

Albany Law School Legal Clinic

Parents

www.tobaccofreekids.org
www.antidrug.com
www.mediacampaign.org
www.alcoholfreechildren.org

Teens

www.freevibe.com
www.girlpower.gov

Treatment

www.libertymgt.com
www.equinoxinc.org
www.bettyfordcenter.org