HELP FOR ADDICTION IS A PHONE CALL AWAY

For Many Drug Addicts, Finding Help Is Not The Problem.

Getting to the point where they want help is. Leisa Cole, director of the
intensive outpatient program for substance abuse and certified addiction
counselor at Mountain View Hospital in Gadsden, said people finally agree
to treatment for various reasons. "Some come because DHR (the Department of
Human Resources) is involved with their child because of the risk
(associated with their drug or alcohol abuse)," Cole said. "Some were
caught by a random drug test at work. Some see that they're losing their
families." For some, hitting rock bottom has been a gradual process.

Others hit it at the speed of light. "You can go for years and be a
functioning alcoholic," Cole said. "With marijuana, you can go a long time
without anything (bad) happening.

I have clients who have gone for years when their families didn't know they
were using.

With coke and crystal meth, you bottom out much quicker." Cole tries to get
her clients interested in nutrition and going to Alcoholics Anonymous or
Narcotics Anonymous meetings so they will have emotional support. "Church
is a big thing," Cole said. "A lot of the ones who have stayed clean for
years have found some kind of higher power." Staying clean for a while is
no guarantee of staying clean forever. "With alcoholics, if you have two
years of abstinence, you have a 50 percent chance of remaining so for five
years.

If you are abstinent for five years, you have a 75 percent chance of
remaining abstinent for 10 years or more," Herbert Kleber said. He is the
director of the Division on Substance Abuse for the College of Physicians
and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Treatment for
drug or alcohol addiction is not a single event, Kleber said. Recovery is
progressive, with patients improving with each relapse and treatment
episode. "A relapse often happens when people know they've got it beat,"
Kleber said. "They try to go back to controlled use." Addicts who
successfully fight their addictions are the ones who are willing to do what
they have to do to stay clean, Cole said. "They're at the point where they
will do anything anyone tells them to do," she said. The withdrawal period
is unpleasant with any drug or alcohol addiction. "That's why people
relapse so much," Cole said. "They feel so bad coming off it, they just
want to take something to make them feel better." Some relapses are fatal.

Cole couldn't say how common relapses are. She can tell stories about them,
though: the well-known Gadsden man who was treated at Mountain View several
times for alcohol addiction, developed cirrhosis of the liver, stayed clean
for several months and then died after he started drinking again; and the
two clients who have died from OxyContin abuse. If you think you might be
abusing drugs or alcohol, check for these signs: * Your tolerance has
increased so much that you're drinking or using more or changing your drug
of choice to get the high you want. * You are having to lie about or hide
your drug or alcohol usage. * You are changing friends and the people you
hang around with. "People who are using don't want to hang around people
who aren't," Cole said. Where to get help According to a substance abuse
treatment locator found on the Internet, there are 83 drug abuse treatment
facilities within 100 miles of Gadsden. The locator can be found at
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/facilitylocatordoc.htm. Other centers can be
found in the Yellow Pages under "drug abuse and addiction information and
treatment." Ten of those centers reported to be closest to Gadsden are
listed below.

The information on these centers came from the Web site. For the most
up-to-date information, call each treatment center. *
Cherokee/Etowah/DeKalb Mental Health Center, Gadsden, 492-7800. Offers
outpatient, partial hospitalization/day treatment and special programs for
the dually diagnosed.

Accepts Medicaid, private health insurance, military insurance (VA,
TRICARE). Hotline: (256) 492-7800. * Mountain View Hospital, Gadsden (800)
245-3645. Offers outpatient, partial hospitalization/day treatment,
non-hospital residential (24-hour), hospital inpatient.

Offers special programs for the dually diagnosed and support groups for
people with HIV/AIDS, gays and lesbians, seniors/older adults, women, men,
DUI/DWI offenders.

Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private health insurance, military insurance
(e.g., VA, TRICARE). Can service Spanish-speaking clients.

Hotline: (800) 662-1002. * The Bridge Inc., Gadsden, (256) 546-6324. Offers
non-hospital residential (24-hour). Special programs for adolescents and
men's groups.

Accepts Medicaid, private health insurance; has sliding-fee scale (fee is
based on income and other factors). * Anniston Fellowship House Inc.,
Anniston, (256) 236-7229. Offers non-hospital residential (24-hour),
special men's groups. * Calhoun/Cleburne Mental Health Center, Anniston,
(256) 236-8003. Offers outpatient care. Special programs are available for
adolescents, dually diagnosed, DUI/DWI offenders.

Accepts Medicaid, private health insurance, military insurance (e.g., VA,
TRICARE); has sliding fee scale. * Mountain Lakes Behavioral Health Care,
Guntersville, (256) 582-4465. Offers outpatient, non-hospital residential
(24-hour) with special women's groups, men's groups, criminal justice groups.

Accepts Medicaid, private health insurance.

Hotlines: (256) 582-5339; (256) 582-4465. * Lookout Mountain Community
Services, Summerville, Ga., (706) 638-5584. Offers outpatient treatment
with special programs for the dually diagnosed and DUI/DWI offenders.

Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private health insurance, military insurance
(e.g., VA, TRICARE). * Windwood, Rome, Ga. (706) 802-2870. Offers
outpatient, partial hospitalization/day treatment, hospital inpatient.

Special programs are available for the dually diagnosed, people with
HIV/AIDS, gays and lesbians, seniors/older adults, women's groups, men's
groups.

Accepts Medicare, private health insurance, military insurance (VA,
TRICARE); has payment assistance other than sliding fee scale.

Hotline: (706) 802-2870. * Bradford Health Services, Warrior (800)
333-1865. Offers outpatient, partial hospitalization/day treatment,
non-hospital residential (24-hour). Special programs available for the
dually diagnosed, women's groups, men's groups.

Accepts private health insurance, military insurance (VA, TRICARE).
Hotlines: (800) 333-1865 (800) 648-1945. * Three Rivers Behavioral Health
Services, Rome, Ga., (706) 295-6084. Offers outpatient treatment and
special programs for the dually diagnosed, people with HIV/AIDS,
pregnant/postpartum women, women's groups, DUI/DWI offenders, criminal
justice groups.

Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private health insurance, military insurance
(VA, TRICARE). Can serve Spanish-speaking clients.

Hotline: (800) 493-1932.