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Chapter 8-L - Substance Abuse

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Related Topics: Counseling: Individual, Group and Family | Support Groups

People of all ages use drugs like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana. Drug and alcohol use is a part of many people's lives. When it gets in the way of keeping a job, going to school, or just getting along with your family or friends, it becomes a problem.

Drugs or Alcohol are a problem if:

• You are drinking or drugging to escape problems, to block out painful feelings, or using as a substitute for close relationships.
• Your use has a bad influence on your relationship with others and is creating personal problems.
• You break the law by using illegal substances, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drinking when you are underage, and/or stealing from friends or family to support your habit.
• Your use exposes you to medical risks.
• You can't get through the day without using either substance.
• They are the most important thing in your life.

Did you know?

• Chronic pot smokers can damage their lungs in a year or less while it takes 10-20 years of cigarette smoking to do the same damage.
• THC affects the hormones which are part of the female reproductive system, and also lowers the sperm count in males.
• The physical effect of smoking crack include extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart and respiration rates, insomnia, nausea, tremors and convulsions.
• An estimated 3.3 million drinking teenagers aged 14-17 are showing signs that suggest they may develop serious alcohol problems.
• Alcohol abuse can cause permanent damage to health through brain damage-10,000 brain cells are destroyed by the alcohol from one drink. Brain cells do not replace themselves and the damage is permanent.
• Alcohol is the most abused drug and alcoholism is one of the most serious public health problems in the United States today.
• Ecstasy (XTC) is neurotoxic. It can produce long-lasting, perhaps permanent damage to the brain and produces memory impairment.

Resources:

Al-Anon/Alateen
410-832-7094 (24 hour, 7 days a week answering service)
Al-Anon is an organization of persons whose lives have been negatively affected by someone else's drinking be it a family member or friend. Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers. An anonymous program. No reference to names should be made.

Alcoholics Anonymous
8635 Loch Raven Boulevard, Suite 4
Baltimore, MD 21286-2309
410-663-1922 (24 hour answering service)
Assists those seeking help with a drinking problem through 12 step AA meetings with other alcoholics.

Associated Mental Health Specialists
110 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Towson MD 21286
410-583-2222
Provides mental health therapy and outpatient substance and alcohol abuse counseling.

Awakenings Counseling Program (Methadone Program)
2 West Aylesbury Road
Timonium, MD 21093
410-561-9527 (Intake) or 410-561-9591
A treatment facility specializing in drug addiction treatment. Methadone maintenance and detoxification programs are available for those individuals addicted to a narcotic drug. The person is provided with Methadone or Buprenorphine, supportive counseling, group & family therapy.

Baltimore County Department of Health - Bureau of Substance Abuse
6401 York Road 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21212
410-887-3828
The Baltimore County Bureau of Substance Abuse operates the Northern and Eastern Area Treatment Programs. These two outpatient programs provide comprehensive treatment services to adult and adolescent substance abusers and their family members. Clients may receive individual, group, and family therapy and education. The Bureau monitors several privately-run treatment programs.

• Baltimore County Outpatient Cocaine Program (BOCAT)
  208 Washington Avenue
  Towson, MD 21204
  410-823-7225
• Community Counseling and Resource Center
  10400 Ridgeland Road
  Cockeysville, MD 21030
  410-628-6120
• DWI Correctional Treatment Facility/Assessment Unit
  10225 Jensen Lane
  Owings Mills, MD 21117
  410-887-1503, ext. 18 or 410-581-4900
• Eastern Area Treatment Program
  9100 Franklin Square Drive, Room 322
  Baltimore, MD 21237
  410-887-6465
• Northern Area Treatment Program
  10151 York Road, Suite 102
  Cockeysville MD 21030
  410-887-7671
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.)
  410-887-3828
  A peer to peer education program utilizing the power of young people to influence the decisions of their peers. Many schools have SADD chapters made up of students who work to educate their peers about the dangers associated with a variety of issues including alcohol, tobacco & other drugs, HIV/AIDS & violence.

Baltimore County Police Department - Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
700 East Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21286-5501
410-887-3273
A 6th grade curriculum taught by Baltimore County Police officers designed to give children the skills to resist social pressures related to drug abuse.

Epoch Counseling Center
A comprehensive outpatient treatment and counseling program for substance abusers and people whose lives have been adversely affected by alcohol and other drugs. Provides a variety of drug-free therapeutic, preventive and educational services to children, teenagers, adults and their families.

• Epoch Counseling Center Dundalk
  1107 North Point Boulevard, Suite 205
  Dundalk, MD 21224
  410-284-3070
• Epoch Counseling Center East
  621 Stemmers Run Road, Suite E
  Baltimore, MD 21221
  410-574-2500
• Epoch Counseling Center Lansdowne
  3902 Annapolis Road
  Lansdowne, MD 21227
  410-789-2647
• Epoch Counseling Center West
  800 Ingleside Avenue
  Catonsville, MD 21228
  410-744-5937

First Step, Inc.
8303 Liberty Road
Baltimore, MD 21244
410-521-4141
Drug and alcohol information and counseling for youth age 6 up to 21 years of age and for youth whose family members are using drugs or alcohol.

• Cockeysville Center
  10400 Ridgeland Road, Suite 1
  Cockeysville, MD 21030
  410-628-6120
• Northwest Area Treatment Program
  Liberty Family Resource Center
  3525 Resource Drive
  Randallstown, MD 21133
  410-655-7655
• Reisterstown Center
  100 Owings Court, Suite 8
  Reisterstown, MD 21136
  410-526-7100 By appointment only

Mountain Manor Treatment Center
3800 Frederick Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21229
410-233-1400
Substance abuse treatment center offering an inpatient program for adolescents with chemical dependency and related problems. An outpatient program is available for adults.

Nar-Anon Family Groups
1-800-477-6291; E-MAIL: NAAA@NarAnon-Maryland.com
Support groups for persons who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction problem of a family member or friend.

Narcotics Anonymous Freestate Regional Service Center
217 North Warwick Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21223
1-800-317-3222 (24 hour hotline)
A fellowship of men and women for whom drugs have become a major problem. They meet regularly to help each other stay clean. Self-help for drug addicts in a 12 step program.

The Ritchey Center
8109 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21234
410-668-8990
Provides individual, group and family counseling to address drug and alcohol abuse prevention and problems through comprehensive assessment, education and treatment strategies focused on attaining and maintaining abstinence.

Sheppard Pratt Health System
6501 N. Charles Street
Towson, MD 21285-6815
410-938-3000
Substance abuse counseling available as well as short to long-term inpatient care and day hospitals available for children and adolescents ages 5 through 18 and to adults. Offers substance abuse education and prevention programs aimed at youth, schools, faith based organizations and businesses, designed to prevent substance abuse.

Women’s Active Recovery Enterprise (A.W.A.R.E.)
7801 York Road Suite 203
Towson, MD 21204
410-825-7077
Provides intensive outpatient counseling for women over 18 years with drug or alcohol problems.

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The text version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
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