According to authorities quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Atlanta is functioning much like a drug highway, with substances coming into the state from foreign dealers before being bundled and shipped to parts unknown. Dealers tend to congregate in the suburbs and residential areas, these experts say, and they may blend in with communities for years before their exploits become known. Reading articles like this might make the residents of Atlanta sigh with relief, as they’ll believe that their homes might not be touched by the specter of addiction. While their neighborhoods might be impacted and while their communities might need to fight back, the people they love might not develop an addiction, since the substances seem to pass through the communities on the way to someplace else.

There are people who are developing addictions in Atlanta, however, and the cities and towns close to Atlanta might also contain people in desperate need of an addiction solution. Thankfully, there are a number of drug treatment programs that can provide vital help, and finding them might be easier than a family ever thought possible.

Finding Care

Atlanta can seem like a small town, but the city can branch from neighborhood to neighborhood, and it can be hard for people living on one side of the city to even visualize what the other side holds in store. Thankfully, the internet makes mapping remarkably easy. With a few choice keywords and a computer search, people can find out more about the facilities located nearby, and by following up with telephone calls and tours, they can ensure that the facilities they choose provide the right mix of services to help the person in need.

Personal recommendations might also play a role in finding care in Atlanta, and some families ask for advice from:

  • The family doctor
  • Social workers
  • Former addicts
  • Understanding coworkers and friends

It’s important to follow up this information with personalized searches, however, as one person’s opinion might not match what a family wants and needs for someone who has an addiction.

Paying for Care

The cost of care can be intimidating for some families, particularly if they’ve struggled with insurance companies over mental health care in the past. A study cited by The Partnership at Drugfree.org suggests that a whopping 48.4 percent of people who got addiction care paid for that treatment with their own funds, but the health care legislation could change that. The new law has strict requirements governing payments for mental health services, meaning that some people might get more assistance for their addiction care, even if they didn’t get that kind of help in the past. Families should check into this option before enrolling the person they love into an addiction program. Some facilities in Georgia might even be willing to work directly with insurance companies, ensuring that all the paperwork is filled out properly and ready to go before the program begins.

Those families that do have to pitch in to pay for care might be well advised to remember that untreated addictions can also be expensive. People who are impaired often can’t work, so families take a hit on each paycheck the person does or doesn’t bring home. Drugs and alcohol can also be quite expensive, and a person with an addiction might take in massive amounts of these substances on a daily basis. An addiction treatment program can obliterate these expenses, perhaps even saving the family money in the long run.

Preparing for Changes

Once the proper program has been selected and all of the paperwork and funding issues have been addressed, the family just needs to prepare for the long work ahead. Often, this preparation involves the long period of time in which the person will be enrolled in treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people with addictions need to spend at least three months in treatment, and they might still have concerns when that time is past.

It’s not uncommon for people to follow up a formal program with:

  • Touch-up counseling
  • Alumni work
  • Support group meetings
  • Individual study

The person’s attention might be divided for quite some time, and healing might start with slow steps. It’s important for families to prepare for this eventuality, and be supportive of the changes the person is trying to make.

We Can Help

If you’re looking for a drug treatment program in the Atlanta area, we hope you’ll consider Black Bear Lodge. We provide intensive care for people who have addictions, mental illnesses or both, and we’re located in your area. We can provide you with a tour of our grounds, or we can provide you with intensive information about how our programs work and how they might benefit someone you love. We can also explain our insurance procedures and billing options. Just call us at 706-914-2327 to start the conversation.