Depressant
Alcohol
Beer, wine, liquor
Alcohol is legal and everywhere, which makes it easy to miss when drinking turns into a problem. Over time the body adapts to it, and stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Withdrawal can bring shaking, sweating and anxiety, and in serious cases seizures.
Signs it may be a problem
- Drinking more, or for longer, than you meant to
- Needing a drink to feel normal or steady in the morning
- Trying to cut back and not being able to
How we help
Alcohol detox here is medically supervised, with medicine to keep withdrawal safe and manageable. Then residential care helps you rebuild the hours that drinking used to fill.
Opioid
Opioids and fentanyl
Fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone and others
Opioids slow the body down and dull pain. Fentanyl is so strong that a tiny amount can cause an overdose, and it is often mixed into other drugs without the buyer knowing.
Signs it may be a problem
- Needing more to get the same effect
- Feeling sick (aches, sweats, nausea) when it wears off
- Using to avoid feeling sick, not to feel good
How we help
Withdrawal is miserable, but medicine and round-the-clock care make it easier. We also plan for your safety after you leave, because overdose risk goes up when your tolerance drops.
Heroin is an illegal opioid. Much of what is sold today contains fentanyl, which makes every use riskier, even for people who have used for years.
Signs it may be a problem
- More and more time spent getting and using
- Withdrawal symptoms within hours of the last use
- Pulling away from family, work and friends
How we help
Supervised detox with medicine for withdrawal, then therapy and a plan that keeps you safer once you're home.
Opioid
Prescription painkillers
OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Norco, Dilaudid, Demerol
Many people start with a real prescription after an injury or surgery. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and meperidine (Demerol) are all opioids, and the body can come to depend on them even when they're taken as directed.
Signs it may be a problem
- Taking more than prescribed, or running out early
- Getting prescriptions from more than one doctor
- Feeling sick or on edge between doses
How we help
We help you stop safely and find other ways to manage pain, working with your own doctors when you want us to.
Sedative
Benzodiazepines
Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium
Benzos are prescribed for anxiety, panic and sleep. The body gets used to them quickly, and stopping suddenly can cause seizures. They are especially dangerous mixed with alcohol or opioids.
Signs it may be a problem
- Needing a higher dose for the same calm
- Panic, shaking or no sleep when you miss a dose
- Mixing them with alcohol or opioids
How we help
Never stop benzos all at once on your own. We lower the dose slowly under medical care, and treat the anxiety underneath.
Prescription stimulants treat ADHD, but some people take them without a prescription, or in higher doses, to stay awake, focus or lose weight. Over time the body comes to rely on them, and stopping can bring exhaustion, low moods and strong cravings.
Signs it may be a problem
- Taking more than prescribed, or someone else's pills
- Crushing or snorting pills for a stronger effect
- Feeling flat, tired or low without them
How we help
We help you stop safely, work with your doctors on any real ADHD needs, and build habits for focus and energy that don't depend on pills.
Stimulant
Methamphetamine
Meth, crystal, ice
Meth is a powerful stimulant that can keep people awake for days. Coming down brings exhaustion, very low moods and strong cravings, and heavy use can cause paranoia.
Signs it may be a problem
- Going days without sleep, then crashing
- Paranoia, or seeing and hearing things that aren't there
- Weight loss and dental problems
How we help
Rest, food and sleep come first. Then therapy that works for stimulants, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), helps you handle cravings and the low days.
Stimulant
Cocaine
Powder cocaine and crack
Cocaine gives a short, intense high followed by a crash. It strains the heart, and today it is often contaminated with fentanyl.
Signs it may be a problem
- Using in binges and needing more each time
- Low mood, exhaustion and cravings after using
- Money trouble or risky situations to get more
How we help
We help you through the crash safely, then work on the triggers and routines that keep pulling you back.
Flakka (alpha-PVP) is a cheap, very strong synthetic stimulant. Even small amounts can cause overheating, a racing heart, paranoia and frightening, unpredictable behavior.
Signs it may be a problem
- Sudden agitation, paranoia or outbursts
- Very high body temperature and heavy sweating
- Staying awake for days at a time
How we help
Medical care comes first, to bring the body and mind back to calm. Then therapy works on the cravings and the reasons behind using.
Marijuana is legal in many places, which can make it hard to see when use becomes a problem. Today's products are much stronger than in the past, and daily use can lead to dependence, with irritability, poor sleep and cravings when you stop.
Signs it may be a problem
- Using every day, or first thing in the morning
- Trouble sleeping or eating without it
- Giving up things you care about to use
How we help
Therapy and steady routines help you through the irritability and poor sleep of the first weeks, and you find other ways to relax and cope.
Synthetic drug
Synthetic marijuana
K2, Spice
Synthetic marijuana is plant material sprayed with lab-made chemicals. It is often sold as a safer or legal choice, but it is much stronger and less predictable than cannabis, and can cause seizures, a racing heart and psychosis.
Signs it may be a problem
- Severe anxiety, confusion or paranoia
- Vomiting, chest pain or a racing heart
- Using again despite frightening reactions
How we help
Close medical care in the first days, then therapy for cravings and for the anxiety or mood problems that can follow.
We also help with other substances, such as kratom, and with using more than one drug at a time, which is very common. If you don't see yours here, call and ask.
Not sure where you fit?
- You can call without giving your name
- We'll ask what you're using and how often
- We'll tell you honestly if we're the right place
How we help
A free, private call is the fastest way to know. If another kind of care fits you better, we'll help you find it.
