What is the Council on Chemical Abuse?
As a private, non-profit corporation, the Council serves as the coordinating agency for alcohol and other drug services supported through public funds. These services are commonly separated into Administration, Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment.
How Can I Tell If I Need Help?
The problem of drug and alcohol dependency has the potential to touch everyone's life. Chemical dependency is an illness that occurs without regard to age, sex, race or neighborhood. The cost, in terms of both lives and dollars, is overwhelming. Often we may suspect there is a problem, but denial interferes with our ability to respond to the warning signs.
How Can I Help a Friend or Loved One?
-If you believe that a someone you care for may have an alcohol or other drug problem, you may want to speak to a person who is able to help determine the severity of the problem. You may not believe this, but if a friend or family member has an alcohol or other drug problem, the person to start with is you! There are ten tasks identified by Ronald L. Rogers and Chandler Scott McMillin in their book "Freeing Someone You Love from Alcohol and other Drugs".-
1. Learn about the disease - involve yourself in the treatment process
2. Identify enabling and provoking behaviors
3. Stop these enabling and provoking behaviors
4. Examine your thinking for resentments and for defense mechanisms
5. Begin treating your own problems
6. Set reasonable expectations for the immediate future
7. De-emphasize the alcoholic or addict in your daily life
8. Consider the possibility of relapse
9. Learn to control your own emotions
10. Learn to look for progress instead of perfection
Al-Anon and Alateen are for those who are in relationships with alcoholic or drug addicted persons. Call 374-5944 to request a list of local meetings.
How Can I Help My Child if He/She Refuses Treatment?
-Act 53 of 1997 amended the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act by adding language to allow for the commitment of minors to involuntary drug and alcohol treatment services. Prior to passage of this act, parents and legal guardians had no means of compelling their children to obtain drug and alcohol treatment services. Act 53 provides parents and legal guardians a means by which to commit their drug/alcohol involved child to treatment services. In Berks County, the point of contact for initiating Act 53 proceedings is the Juvenile Probation Office. If necessary, the probation department will refer the child for a drug and alcohol assessment. If treatment is recommended as a result of this assessment, the child must comply with this treatment or involuntary commitment proceedings will be initiated. For more information, contact the Berks County Probation Department at (610) 478-3200.
I Think I Might Need Treatment...Now What Do I Do?
If you think you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, there are different types of programs that are available. The first step is to get an appointment for an assessment (also called an evaluation). The results of this assessment will determine the severity of your problem and which type of program can best help you. How you enter treatment is dependent upon your method of payment. Usually, you will fall into one of the three categories:
Private Pay: Simply contact your preferred treatment provider by telephone to arrange an appointment for an evaluation.
Third Party Pay (Health Insurance): Contact your insurance carrier or your preferred treatment provider to identify the procedures that must be followed to obtain funding for services.
Public Pay: If you do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for treatment, you may be eligible for public funding. To find out you may go to the Treatment Access and Services Center at 19 North Sixth Street, Suite 300 in Reading, or you may call an outpatient treatment provider to schedule an assessment. If an emergency exists, you should go directly to a detoxification center. Determination of funding eligibility and level of care will be established following your assessment.
What is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a 12-step self-help group where men and women meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. It was started in 1935 by a New York stockbroker and an Ohio surgeon who had been "hopeless" drunks. They founded AA in an effort to help others who suffered from the disease of alcoholism. The only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking and there are no fees or dues for AA membership.
If you would like to locate an AA meeting in the Berks County area, you can call Alcoholics Anonymous at 610-373-6500 to request a schedule of local AA meetings.
Other Types of Groups
There are other types of self-help groups that are available in the Berks County area:
Narcotics Anonymous is for persons who are chemically dependent. Call 373-5237 to request a list of meetings in the Berks area.
Al-Anon and Alateen for those who are in relationships with alcoholic or drug addicted persons. Call 374-5944 to request a list of local meetings.
For a list of 12-step meetings in the Berks County area, link to Easy Does It, Inc.
In addition, the Council on Chemical Abuse maintains lists of local 12 Step meetings. Please feel free to stop our office, email us or call 610-376-8669.
