Treatment

Intervention

An intervention is a coordinated effort by one or more people (usually family, friends and possibly coworkers) to get someone to seek professional help with alcoholism or drug abuse. The majority of addicts entering treatment have arrived with the help of family intervention, as addicts rarely seek help on their own.

Our Intervention Directory lists interventionists available for phone consultations as well as complete intervention.

Intervention References lists articles and books that can help you understand why intervention is important and how it works.

Facilities

How do you find the right treatment program? Many look for nearby affordable treatment, but you may want to consider more options for finding the best facility for you.

Find treatment centers in your state:

Or talk to a professional about what is best for you.

Recovery

Once a treatment program has been completed, a recovery program is vital for maintaining a drug-free life. There are national support groups and local branches and organizations to help with sobriety.

A recent development showing promise is online recovery and treatment.

Find recovery support resources in your state here:

Facts

Did you know...

• The US has over 25% of the world's prisoners, but less than 5% of the world's population, and over half are jailed for drug related crimes?
• The United States [is] the world's largest single market for illicit drugs? [ref: INCB 2005 report]
• Teen girls use more marijuana,cigarettes, pain relievers, and alcohol than boys? And they are 50% more likely to be depressed? [ref: freevibe.org]

Statistics

Laws

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was a milestone in drug regulation in the U.S. It consolidated a number of laws regulating the production and distribution of stimulants, depressants, narcotics, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of controlled substances. All substances grouped in one of five schedules, determined by medicinal value, harmfulness, and potential for addiction or abuse, with Schedule 1 reserved for the most dangerous drugs with no recognized medical use.

Ammendments in 1984 and 1988 increased penalties and clamped down on U.S. manufacture and export of precursor chemicals for the production of cocaine; amendments have also broadened and clarified drugs that can be included in the 5 drug schedules

Each state designates specific penalties for possession and sale of the substances covered by this law, within the broader guidelines defined at the federal level. For state laws, see "Legal & Policy Issues" for your state.

News

Education

Educating our kids and communities on the effects of drugs and how to handle drug problems is a vital part of building a strong community. For drug education curricula and sites geared to educating kids and teens, see our Education section.

How can we make a real difference in our schools and kids' lives? Read Educator/Addiction Professional Makes Sense to read about what is working in one school.