You may feel that absolutely no one can help you — that you and your family have to suffer alone. But there are many different types of people who can help you understand and cope with substance use disorders.

Do you have a regular health care provider, such as a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner? If so, start there. Your health care provider knows you and your needs, and is probably your best ally in this process. He or she can identify physical or behavioral issues that you or the person with the problem may be having, and can treat them, or refer you to specialized care. Ask for help identifying a substance use disorder, or a recommendation for a counselor — or both.

Some physicians have received special training and certification in addiction medicine. Ask your physician if he or she is a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), or knows someone who is.

Counselors come in many forms, including social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors, and nurses. They work in hospitals, treatment facilities, private offices, group practices, and social agencies. You may also find counselors at your church or child's school.

Finding a counselor for help with substance use disorders is not as easy as opening the phone book and choosing a name (although most are listed there). Ideally, you want to find someone you trust and can confide in, and make sure the person has qualifications and experience in this area. When choosing a counselor, ask if the person has specific experience in identifying and treating addictive disorders, or has certification from NAADAC, the association for addiction professionals.

If you decide to seek counseling from a licensed therapist, think about whether you want your health insurance to pay for it or if you should pay yourself. Health insurance may cover most or all of the cost of therapy, although there may be a limit on the number of times you can go. Your company's human resources department can help you figure out what benefits you have. Or, you can call the toll-free number on the back of your insurance card and ask for help. Your insurance company can also give you a list of their preferred providers.

Clergy, religious educators, and church administrators all have counseling skills, although they are not necessarily licensed counselors. If you attend religious services regularly, ask a member of your clergy for advice. They may have received specific training on substance use disorders. If not, they should be able to suggest someone who can help.

Employee assistance professionals (EAP) are a confidential resource used and trusted by millions of people each year. They help employees and their dependents or immediate family identify and resolve personal concerns, and have a lot of experience in identifying substance use problems and finding ways to treat them.

Companies as small as 10 employees and as large as 10,000 or more have EAPs. Every federal government agency is required to have an EAP, as is any company that does a certain amount of business with the government.

Your employer may have an EAP at your worksite, or may contract with a third party to provide EAP services. To find out if you have an EAP, look in the employee handbook or on bulletin boards; or go to the human resources department and ask for employee assistance resources.

Finally, Al-Anon and Alateen are support groups that help families and friends of people with alcohol problems recover from the effects of living with a problem drinker — whether the person is still drinking or not. More than likely, someone at an Al-Anon meeting knows of a counselor who specializes in substance use disorders.

To find an Al-Anon program, call 1-888-4AL-ANON or visit: http://www.al-anon.org/alalist_usa.html

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