Are you concerned about your own drug or alcohol use? You may not necessarily need rehabilitation treatment or “rehab.” Here are some ways to evaluate where you are and to help you figure out what steps you can take toward a healthier future.

• Recognize early signs if your drug or alcohol use is becoming a problem. Visit our Is it a Problem? section to take an assessment and find out where your drug and or alcohol use is on the continuum between low risk and high risk. 

• Make an appointment with your doctor or other health professional, therapist or social worker to discuss the problem.

• Attend a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Smart Recovery or other anonymous self-help groups devoted to helping members get sober and stay that way.

• It’s easy to find an AA meeting or find an NA meeting in your area, as well as the most convenient locations and times. In addition to these web listings, you can call Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous for the schedule of meetings near you. There are meetings all over and you can even sit in the back and just listen if you’d like. 

• When the going gets tough, remember you can do it – you can give up alcohol and/or drugs. Talk to someone. Talk to anyone in your life who can give you encouragement, support or practical help, such as family or friends – the people who love you and want to help you in any way that they can. You might be surprised at how supportive they can be.  If you feel like no one understands and you have no one to talk to about this, please know that there are many other people who do understand and can help you.  Remember, you don’t have to be alone in this.

Have faith in yourself and you will find a way. It takes courage and responsibility to be happy. It’s not easy, but it is possible to recover and lead a healthy life.

Read stories of other people in recovery.