You’re in the right place if you want to take action! One of the best things you can do is talk to other people about opioids and the risks involved with misuse. Take action by spreading the education and facts among your peers to prevent them from adopting risky behaviors. Talk to your child, talk to your parents or caregivers, talk to friends, talk to other mentors. There are effective methods that support spreading the word about prevention, how to intervene early and address substance use.
If you suspect somebody close to you is having a drug problem and you have questions, check out this website to find some answers and more information.
The following actions are some possible steps you can take in order to prevent or address opioid misuse. It’s your move.
Contact the HELP Line Or Locate A Treatment Facility
Get assistance finding a treatment provider by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or contacting your local county drug and alcohol office.
Find a drug rehab center that specifically serves adolescents in Pennsylvania. To locate treatment facilities anywhere in the U.S., please visit the SAMHSA website.
Parents and caretakers who would like to speak to trained parent coaches about intervention and treatment options for adolescents should contact the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids:
Get Naloxone
Naloxone is a prescription medicine that reverses opioid overdoses. It temporarily blocks the effect of opioids and helps a person to start breathing again. Naloxone is sold under the brand names Narcan and Evzio. It is easy to use and available to anyone in Pennsylvania without a prescription.
>> Learn how to recognize an opioid overdose, where to get naloxone and how to use it.
Safe Medicine Disposal
Safely dispose of unused medications by utilizing drug take back boxes, mixing it with an undesirable substance or removing it from prescription bottles and instead placing it in a sealable, leak-proof bag without any personal or identifiable information.
Many regions in Pennsylvania have medication drop boxes which allow citizens to turn in unused drugs in specific locations. Search for prescription drug take-back locations in your county.
Read more in detail on disposal and safely managing prescription medications in our PARENTS section.
Treatment Options
Getting the right treatment for your child is a process, and navigating the current systems in place requires due diligence and perseverance. There are services that may offer to find a treatment program for you at no charge. However, be careful as there are unscrupulous people out there who will pretend to have your best interests at heart, but are more interested in their own financial benefit.
Learn more about which treatment options exist and how to keep your child healthy following treatment.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains and manages the most comprehensive searchable database of treatment providers across the country. Before using this tool it’s helpful to have already done your homework on the types of treatment available — like intensive outpatient or residential care — so that you can target your search most effectively.
There is a great video tutorial available to help walk you through it.
Health Insurance and Paying for Treatment
There are several options when it comes to paying for substance abuse treatment for your child. One of the most common is through private health insurance, but additional options to explore include Medicaid, Veterans Administration benefits (if you’re a military family), Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), student health services, clinical trials, financial aid. Additionally, many treatment centers offer payment plans and sliding-scale fees.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many health insurance plans are required to include mental health and substance use disorder coverage, however coverage varies state by state and plan by plan. Also worth noting is that under the ACA your child can be covered by your insurance as a dependent up until age 26.
It’s important to understand what your insurance will cover, so be sure to contact your insurer to discuss coverage options prior to seeking treatment.