WEBSITES FOR PARENTS AND TEENS

Al-Anon/Alateen
www.al-anon.alateen.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
www.na.org

American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
www.asam.org

To find a physician specializing in addiction medicine, see the American Medical Association website http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg

Association of Recovery Schools (ARS)
www.recoveryschools.org

Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University
www.casacolumbia.org

Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI)
www.cspinet.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Join Together Online (JTO)
www.jointogether.org

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
www.madd.org

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA)
www.nacoa.org

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.health.org

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
www.ncadd.org

National Families in Action
www.nationalfamilies.org

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
www.inhalants.org

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
www.niaaa.nih.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
www.nida.nih.gov

The Parents and Teachers section (http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html) is particularly helpful and informative.

Office of National Drug Control Policy
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

Parents – the Anti-Drug
www.theantidrug.com

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
www.saddonline.com

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA’s treatment facility locator (http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/facilitylocatordoc.htm) offers detailed information on programs available in your city and state.

FINDING A TREATMENT CENTER

Treatment for substance use disorders should be readily available to any and all who need it. In the addiction field, this is called “treatment on demand.” Treatment on demand is not just humanitarianism or utopianism -- it’s a matter of economics, for drug treatment programs are cost-effective, saving approximately seven dollars for every dollar spent.

Yet despite these immediate and impressive savings, treatment for drug problems and addiction is subject to a higher level of management than other health care services. Managed care restrictions limit the amount of time adolescents (and adults) can spend in treatment and restrict access to certain kinds of treatment or specific treatment programs. In many cases, insurance benefits are denied because drug problems are classified under the category of mental health, and mental health disorders are not covered under the policy.

Despite the cutbacks and closed doors, there are dozens of high-quality treatment programs with facilities and programs specifically tailored to adolescent needs. If you are not familiar with the facilities in your area or state, try one or all of the following options. Once you’ve narrowed your search to one or more treatment centers, schedule a time to talk to the director or a qualified staff member. Be sure to ask detailed questions about the program’s philosophy, staff, services, and various programs.

• Call your county human services agency; the address and phone number should be listed in a special “government pages” section of the phone book.
  
  
• Look in the yellow pages under “Alcoholism Information and Treatment” or “Drug Abuse Information and Treatment” and call the counseling offices, helplines, or treatment programs listed. If you need more information, be sure to ask for brochures, referrals, and/or additional resources.
  
  
• Find a physician in your area who specializes in addiction medicine. The American Society of Addiction Medicine, affiliated with the American Medical Association, offers an extremely helpful web site that will help you find a qualified physician. Contact the American Society of Addiction Medicine, 4601 North Park Ave, Arcade Suite 101, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, telephone 301-656-3920 Fax: 301-656-3815, E-mail: E-mail@asam.org, web site www.asam.org.
  
  
• The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence offers two help lines offering information on intervention, counseling, and treatment. Call 1- 800- NCA-CALL or 1-800-475-HOPE.
  
  
• The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a “treatment locator” that lists more than eleven thousand addiction treatment programs, including residential centers, outpatient programs, and hospital-based programs for both adolescents and adults. The web site is http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or you can E-mail info@samhsa.gov or call 301-443-5700.
  
  
• A comprehensive guide to adolescent treatment programs was just published by Drug Strategies, a nonprofit research institute “that promotes more effective approaches to the nation’s drug problems.” You’ll find “Treating Teens: A Guide to Adolescent Drug Problems” at http://www.drugstrategies.org/teens/programs.html. Call 202-289-9070 or send an E-mail to dspolicy@aol.com.
  
  
• If you’re searching for detailed information about programs geared to specific problems such as codependency, dual diagnosis, eating disorders, cocaine addiction and so on, try the Addiction Resource Guide at http://www.addictionresourceguide.com. The web site also includes a long list of Internet community resources. E-mail info@addictionresourceguide.com or call (914)-725-5151.
  
  
• To learn more about the options available for long-term residential treatment programs, visit the following websites:
  http://www.daytop.org/adolescent.html
  http://www.odysseyhouseinc.org/Programs/youth.html
  http://www.phoenixhouse.org/treatment/adolesc.asp
  http://www.teenchallenge.com/main/centers/adolescent.cfm

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Teens Under the Influence also provides a list of RECOMMENDED READING including these topics:

• A.A., N.A. and the Twelve Steps
• Addiction: Biological and Environmental Influences
• Drugs
• Intervention
• Nutrition
• Parenting Books
• Personal Accounts
• Relapse and Recovery
• Spirituality
• Treatment