Use these questions when you speak to providers

1. General Information

   • When can I get an appointment?
   • What is the cost of the program? Is insurance accepted?
   • What type of financial aid, payment plans or sliding fee scales are offered?
   • How are you addressing COVID 19? Do you offer virtual services?

2. Services

   • Do you offer customized treatment for _____________(fill in the age/gender/other characteristics)?
   • Do you provide services for withdrawal management (“Detox”), Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, medical and psychiatric staff for physical and mental health issues?
   • Do you offer family counseling? If not, can you make a referral?
   • Do you design a continuing care plan to help in the ongoing recovery process?

3. Motivational Techniques

   • What do you do to motivate patients to stay engaged in their treatment plan?

4. Effectiveness

   • Have you had your program evaluated? What are the outcomes of the evaluation?
   • What credentials and licenses do the program program’s clinical staff hold?
   • What type of accreditation and/or state licensing do you have?

Instruction for finding the right provider:

Use TreatmentATLAS.org if you're looking for treatment in:

• Delaware
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• New York
• North Carolina
• West Virginia

Use TreatmentConnection.com if you're looking for treatment in:

• Alaska
• Delaware
• Indiana
• New Mexico

Use FindTreatment.gov if you're looking for treatment in any other state.

Levels of Care

Starting at the right level of care can greatly increase the chances of success when it comes to treatment for problems with drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) created the Patient Placement Criteria to match patients to appropriate treatment. Whether you complete this tool yourself or with an addiction professional, it’s important to understand the recommendations provided. The tool will recommend where you should seek further evaluation. It may also suggest services within that level.

Early Intervention – Level 0.5
Screening and education for people who might be at risk of harm or illness from drugs or alcohol. (e.g., screening by a primary care provider or a school-based program)

Outpatient Treatment – Level 1
Counseling, and possible medication treatment for substance use problems provided at an office or clinic. Time spent varies by the patient’s needs and may range from 1 to 8 hours per week.

Intensive Outpatient (IOS/IOP) – Level 2
A program that provides counseling, medical, and/or psychiatric treatments at a clinic, center, or hospital facility. Adults attend for at least 9 hours per week; adolescents for 6. Services often occur in daytime or evening blocks of time.

Residential Treatment – Level 3
These programs are often called “rehab” and can vary in stay from several days to 6-12 months. Patients live and receive services onsite, including counseling, recovery coaching, medical/mental health treatment, and medication management (as needed). Residential care can be necessary due to the severity of the addiction or other health conditions, a history of relapses, unstable living arrangements or a poor support network.

Hospital Inpatient – Level 4
24-hour inpatient hospital care where medical care is the focus. Counseling and recovery support services are also available.

Additional services, such as those below, may be recommended by the placement tool.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Patients with an opioid use disorder may manage their condition with FDA-approved medication. These include methadone which is dispensed at licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) or buprenorphine and naltrexone which are available at some clinics or prescriber’s offices.

Withdrawal Management (Detox or Detoxification)
Detoxification is a set of interventions aimed at safely managing withdrawal and preventing life-threatening complications that may occur after long-term use of a substance is abruptly reduced or stopped. Treating withdrawal is not the same as treating addiction and should always include a follow-up treatment plan and referral to treatment.

Mental Health Monitoring
Programs watch for and are prepared to treat both substance use and mental health issues. Psychiatrists and counselors work together on-site or through referral to address mental health conditions.

Mental Health Treatment
Mental Health Integrated programs treat both substance use and mental health issues together. Onsite program staff are trained to help with mental health problems that are active and serious.

Physical Health Needs Integrated
Substance use disorder treatment programs that can also manage patients’ serious physical health conditions.