Substance Use

Any reliance on a substance like alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs can be problematic. Whether you are worried about yourself or a loved one, there are many online tools and resources to help you determine whether you should seek help. 

• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers an online screening tool to assess drinking habits as well as many resources to help you navigate treatment and talk to loved ones.
• For a basic overview of what constitutes an addiction and what signs and symptoms to look for, start with the Mayo Clinic's overview of substance use disorders here.
• The Poison Control Centers provide information and assistance related to prescribed medications and other substances that may cause medical problems if misused. Use their Pill Identifier tool if you have or find a pill and don't know what it is, or if you have questions about something you were prescribed.

If you struggle with addiction or a substance use disorder, there are many available treatment facilities in the United States. Your local 211 can help you discover resources and clinics in your area. You can also explore the below online platforms. 

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has an online treatment services locator. You can enter your location securely and anonymously to identify what help exists nearby.  

• FindTreatment.gov similarly helps you pinpoint relevant resources. It also hosts information on understanding addiction, your treatment options, and treatment payment plans.  

• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides an Alcohol Treatment Navigator. It presents information on different treatments, costs, insurance, and important questions to ask providers. There are also resources for special circumstances like adolescent treatments.  

• AddictionGuide.com provides recovery resources specific to the substance you struggle with. Their site also includes addiction forums, blogs and publications, and helpful recovery apps.  

If cost is a barrier against pursuing treatment, please refer to our Healthcare Expenses page for more resources, or contact 211 and ask about sliding-scale or low-cost treatment options in your community.  

Supportive friends and family members are invaluable when it comes to a successful rehabilitation journey. If you are having difficulty identifying the best ways to support your loved one, the below resources may help.  

• Resources for parents are available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, including facts about the impact of drugs on childhood development and tips for talking to a child about drugs and alcohol.

• The Recovery Village provides resources for friends and family seeking strategies of support. They also provide signs of addiction to watch out for and tips for showing empathy without enabling.  

• DrugFree.org teaches readers how to approach difficult conversations about addiction and seeking help. It also gives a key list of Do’s and Don’ts for engaging with a struggling loved one.  

You can also contact 211 or any of the above helplines on behalf of or if worried about someone else.

The road to recovery can be winding and long. In order to prevent relapse, it is crucial to surround yourself with support and accountability partners—whether in-person or digital. Your local 211 is available 24/7 to provide encouragement and connect you with local resources like support groups and counseling.

You may also consider the following digital tools:  

• I Am Sober is a free application available for Android and iPhone. It allows you to celebrate milestones, make personal goals, and join a community of other people pursuing new, healthy habits. It can also help you prepare for common withdrawal symptoms.  

• SoberTool is free in the App Store and Google Play. It was created by a Harvard-educated addiction counselor and gives users daily motivation, craving-avoidance tools, and a chat forum.  

• BetterHelp is an online counseling application that grants access to over 3,000 mental health specialists. You can receive basic counseling, advice, and support absolutely free, or pay for more in-depth assistance. You can take the line and commute out of counseling.  

If you are looking for more information about substance use disorders and treatment options, there are a variety of reputable resources available.

• For basic information about different types of drugs that are commonly misused, definitions of addiction, and an overview of treatment options, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse's site here.
• In the past several years, significant attention has been focused on opioid abuse across the U.S. For more information about the "opioid epidemic," start with the Department of Health and Human Service's page here.
• The RAND Corporation has conducted a variety of studies about substance abuse and drug policy over the past several years, which can be accessed here.