Substance Abuse and Addictions in Adults

by Katie A. McGravey, MA, CAGS candidate at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Substance Abuse refers to the pathological use of drugs or alcohol, characterized by daily intoxication, inability to reduce consumption, and/or impairment in social or occupational functioning. In the United States, abused substances range from cigarettes and alcohol to cocaine and heroin. Painkillers and marijuana are also commonly abused.

Substance abuse is sometimes viewed primarily as a social problem. However, it can develop into a complex disease or addiction. Substance Dependency indicates a more serious condition, with abuse lasting for a longer period of time. Long-term substance abuse can lead to changes in the chemical properties of the brain.

Resource Organizations » Substance Abuse and Addictions

5 listing(s), including 3 with hotlines and 1 offering support groups

In Massachusetts

BEST, Boston Emergency Services Team

www2.massgeneral.org/allpsych/aps/best.asp

Boston, MA 02115

Toll-free: 800-981-HELP

24 hours a day, seven days a week. By using this helpline, a caller is assisted in dealing with psychiatric crisis support, information, and referrals. The caller may be directed to a B.E.S.T. Urgent Care Center, a Designated Emergency Department, or a crisis intervention mobile team may be dispatched to the site of the crisis. The Urgent Care Center is located at the Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Building, 85 E. Newton Street, Boston. It is open from 7am-11pm. It is strongly advised that prior to arrival to Urgent Care Center the Call Center be contacted at 1-800-981-4357.

Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education

helpline-online.com

Helpline: 800-327-5050

TTY: 617-536-5872

office: 617-279-2240

The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline is a Massachusetts resource providing free and confidential information and referral for alcohol and other drug abuse problems and related concerns. The Helpline is committed to linking consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about treatment and prevention services throughout Massachusetts. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Language interpreters are always available.

Riverside Emergency Services

www.riversidecc.org

Norwood, MA 02062

800-529-5077

Twenty-four hour a day, 7 day a week on-site and mobile teams provide psychiatric and substance abuse assessment, emergency medication evaluation, information, referral, hospital prescreening and admission. The Emergency Services utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to intervention and treatment and collaborate closely with other community resources.

Bridgewell Counseling Services

www.bridgewell.org

Offers support group(s)

35 Market Street

Lowell

Lowell, MA 01852

978-459-0389

Located in Lowell, Bridgewell Counseling Services (BCS)provides comprehensive behavioral health treatment and continuity of care to adults with psychiatric and developmental disabilities in a setting that respects individual strengths and differences. We consider it a part of our mission to engage individuals who have struggled with continued treatment due to the severity of their illness. Our standard outpatient services include individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies, diagnosis and treatment, and medication assessment and management.
Bridgewell Counseling Services seeks to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through consultation, collaboration and coordination of care. Our experienced team of clinical nurse specialists, psychiatrist, and psychotherapists provides services in a manner to ensure that individuals and their families, other care providers and advocates are active collaborators in the process of growth, change and recovery.
The clinic is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). BCS accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans.

Outside Massachusetts

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

findtreatment.samhsa.gov

1 Choke Cherry Road

Rockville, MD 20857

240-276-1660

This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems.

Additional Sources of Information

Promoting Older Adult Health: Aging Network Partnerships to Address Medication, Alcohol, and Mental Health Problems, from the National Council on Aging.
Rethinking the Demographics of Addiction: Helping Older Adults Find Recovery, a webcast addressing alcohol and aging from the National Alcohol & Drug Recovery Month, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
As You Age: A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol, a public education campaign to warn older adults about the dangers of misusing medications or mixing them with alcohol developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration.

General Resources on Aging and Wellness

From Project INTERFACE: Caregiver Resources.
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.
“Older Adults and Mental Health,” from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
PubMed, a collaboration of the U. S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, provides a comprehensive list of journal articles regarding mental health and older adults.

Disclaimer: Material on the Project INTERFACE web site is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. Project INTERFACE urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.