Revised 2009
MARKET Signs of Drug Use........................... 3 Frequently Asked Questions................. 4 Getting Help............................... 6 Providers................................. 8 Tips to Reduce Drug Use.................... 11 Making the Call............................ 12 Notes.................................... 12 Produced in 2009 by the Seattle Neighborhood Group in collaboration with the Drug Free Communities Program. SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP www.sngi.org Funded by:
The signs and behaviors listed below are often found with drug use. However, if your youth shows the following signs, it does not always mean that he or she is using drugs. Adolescence is a stressful time, and these signs could be due to other issues besides drug use. If you think your youth might be using drugs, you may want to talk to a treatment professional (See pages 8-10 for available providers). They will be able to give you more information and possibly recommend an assessment. Physical Signs Loss of appetite, and changes in eating habits Slowed or staggering Physical walk Poor Physical Signs coordination Can t sleep Red, watery eyes Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes Extremely overactive Needle marks on arms, feet or legs Hacking cough Behavioral Signs Change in overall attitude or personality without a cause Quick change in friends or new hangouts Doesn t want to talk about new friends Drop in grades at school Loss of interest in family, friends, and usual hobbies Difficulty paying attention Lack of motivation, energy, and self-esteem Moodiness or irritability Paranoia High need for privacy Constant Dishonesty Secretive or suspicious behavior Friends are known drug users
The following are some common concerns and questions that many people have when calling a substance abuse treatment provider. Remember, it is your right to call and simply ask questions. In the event that your concerns are not discussed in this following section, choose a provider from the list we have given you and call them to discuss your questions, or call the Drug / Alcohol Help line at (206) 722-4222, (Sunday Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm), or www.adhl.org. Youth are referred to treatment by parents, schools, and the legal system. To get your youth help, you will need to call the Drug / Alcohol Help line; or a treatment provider directly; or if applicable the DSHS CSO at (206) 341-7430. They will ask you information about your youth and their drug use. You will also be asked to go to the treatment center for an assessment. An assessment will determine what types of services will help your family the most and what payment options will cover treatment. All treatment programs are different. At an inpatient treatment program, your youth stays at the treatment facility with other youth until the program is completed. At outpatient programs, your youth stays at your home and will be required to go to the treatment center and receive service weekly. Again, each program is different, but most have goals that your youth must reach to have a healthy, drug free lifestyle. Some treatment programs offer services free of charge. Most treatment programs offer a wide variety of payment options such as medical coupons, private insurance, or sliding scale fees. This will be an important question for you to ask a specific provider. This is a very common question. Many treatment centers do offer some form of transportation to get your youth to and from the treatment center. Many other agencies are located on bus lines or are within walking distance. Again, this will be an important question for you to ask a specific provider.
You do not have to get involved, but you may be encouraged to because it can help with treatment. For example, parental involvement and a household free from drug use helps a youth succeed with a drug free life. By getting involved, you are showing the support and care that helps young people say no to drugs. Did You Know? Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 say that drugs are the most important problem they face If you do not have insurance, there are other options. If your youth is younger than 19 and is accepted into an inpatient drug treatment program, Washington State will give medical coupons to pay for treatment. Also, many outpatient facilities accept medical coupons, offer a sliding scale, or offer services for free. Did You Know? Nearly a third of all eighth graders in King County have drunk alcohol The length of treatment will depend on the type of program. However, it is common for treatment to last several months and sometimes up to 2 years. This time also depends on how fast someone can reach all of the goals set by a program.
Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South Seattle, Washington 98144 (206) 695-7600, www.acrs.org ACRS is a state-certified Substance Abuse Treatment Program that helps individuals overcome drug and Private Insurance alcohol use, improve their physical and mental health, and improve their quality of life. This is achieved through supportive outpatient services such as individual therapy and ethnic specific support groups. Education about drug and alcohol abuse can also be included for family members. Services are provided both in office and at schools by bilingual and bicultural staff with cultural competency. Over 30 languages & dialects are spoken by staff including Vietnamese and Cambodian. Consejo Counseling and Referral Service 8615 14 th Avenue South Seattle, Washington 98108 (206) 461-4880, www.consejo-wa.org Consejo was created to serve high-risk Latino youth. Today, Consejo serves youth of all ethnicities through an interdependent treatment model. At Consejo, youth feel accepted and secure, experience personal growth, and develop new life skills. This outpatient facility includes many recreational Private Insurance activities in treatment, as well as individual mental health counseling and family therapy to help keep youth drug free. Spanish speaking staff are available. Lakeside Milam Recovery Center 12845 Ambaum Boulevard Southwest Seattle, Washington 98146 (206) 241-0890, www.lakesidemilam.com This treatment facility offers their services on an inpatient basis with an average stay of up to 35 days. Drug and alcohol evaluations are done free at this location, and this center does accept private insurance and state direct funding (DASA). Private Insurance
Renacer Youth Treatment Center (Males Only) (Sea Mar Community Health Services) 10001 17 th Place South Seattle, Washington 98168 (206) 766-6960, www.seamar.org Renacer Youth Treatment Center is an inpatient Private Insurance treatment program specifically for males. Individuals who are enrolled in this program undergo 20 hours of chemical dependency treatment per week in the form of therapy, lectures, and group discussions. There is also the potential for residents of this program to receive enrollment credits that can be put toward a high school diploma. Renacer Youth Treatment Center was developed to serve the Latino community, but today they do serve all ethnicities. Ruth Dykeman Children s Center 137 Southwest 154 th Street Burien, Washington 98166 (206) 243-5544, www.rdcc.org Ruth Dykeman Children s Center Youth and Family Services provides outpatient Private Insurance counseling to children, youth and their families. Counseling services include: assessment, individual, family and group services provided at the agency and at several school and community locations. Therapists are dually certified or cross-trained in mental health and chemical dependency treatment. Counseling is available to resolve crisis situations or to reach goals defined by the family and/or the youth. Families are encouraged to participate fully in counseling services and support is provided to all family members. Ryther Child Center 2400 Northeast 95th Seattle, Washington 98115 (206) 525-5050, www.ryther.org Ryther Child Center offers a chemical dependency treatment program that emphasizes group and family work in treating a youth s substance abuse. Through various experiential learning activities, youth will build a sense of self-worth, increase cooperative problem solving skills, and learn to develop secure feelings of Private Insurance trust. These are necessary in overcoming substance abuse. Ryther Child Center also provides mental health treatment and supportive family therapy to augment a youth s substance abuse treatment.
Visions Youth Treatment Center (Females Only) (Sea Mar Community Health Centers) 1603 East Illinois Street Bellingham, Washington 98226 (360) 647-4266, www.seamar.org/locations/visions.htm Visions Youth Treatment Center is an inpatient Private Insurance treatment program specifically for females. Individuals who are enrolled in this program undergo 20 hours of chemical dependency treatment per week in the forms of therapy, lectures, and group discussions. There is also the potential for residents of this program to receive enrollment credits that can be put toward a high school diploma. Visions Youth Treatment Center was developed to serve the Latino community, but today they do serve all ethnicities. Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse 606 Maynard Ave S. Suite 106 Seattle, Washington 98104 (206) 223-9578, www.wapiseattle.org Private Insurance WAPIFASA is an outpatient drug treatment program aimed at helping youth overcome drug use. This program offers individual and group counseling for the youth and it encourages family involvement in the youth s treatment. Although the length of treatment varies and is dependant upon the individual, the average enrollment in this program is about 90 days. Onsite interpretation is available in Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Please call for other interpretation availabilities.
Adolescence and the teenage years are a stressful time for youth, which often includes the pressure to use drugs. However, there are ways to help support your youth to make healthy decisions. Parental influence is a large reason why youth do not use drugs. A strong, open connection between youth and parent helps keep youth free from drugs. The tips listed below might help you in supporting your youth. 1. Talk with your youth - If you don t want them to use drugs, tell them. 2. Teach your youth to choose friends wisely - Let them know that hanging out with other friends who do drugs is dangerous. Also, get to know who your youth s friends are. 3. Be a positive role model - If you don t want your youth to use drugs, then provide a safe, drug-free home. 4. Create rules - If you don t want your youth to use drugs, tell them. Make sure there are consequences for their behavior if the rules are broken. 5. Keep in touch with your youth - If your youth is going out with friends, ask where they are going, who they will be with, and what they will be doing. Also, ask that your youth checks in with you periodically throughout the night. Setting Expectations Try this quiz to see if you are setting proper rules and expectations for your youth. Have you told your youth that you expect them to avoid all drug use? Yes or No? Have you discussed and set rules for your youth? Yes or No? Do you have specific consequences for your youth if they break the rules Yes or No? Did you involve your youth in the rule setting discussion? Yes or No?
When you are seeking treatment for your youth, treatment providers understand your concerns. By thinking about the following information, you can prepare yourself for the types of questions providers may ask. How long do you think your youth has been using drugs? Why do you think your youth is using drugs? Has the youth been diagnosed with a mental illness? What is the youth s family history like? Are the caregivers divorced or separated? Do family members get along with each other? Is there a family history of drug use? What is the youth s school history like? Are they failing? Do they attend school regularly? Do they have problems at school?