With the stigma and shame surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, not to mention the perceived costs, it often takes a lot for someone to seek out treatment.
Whether it’s a high-school coach with possible alcohol use disorder or a prominent national figure allegedly abusing ketamine and Adderall, addictions and their consequences often lead to splashy headlines.
Beyond the headlines, however, are real people in need of local resources and treatment options who may not know where to start.
“It takes a lot just to even walk through those doors, because in our area, there’s a lot of shame and stigma surrounding substance use or mental health issues, but just all around so just walking through the doors is a huge step,” said Natalie Taylor-Bell, the assistant director of behavioral health-outpatient services at Valley Community Services Board in Staunton.
At a community services board, anyone who walks in through the front door during business hours gets same-day access to staff to make referrals or get them immediate care, to start them on their journey to recovery, whether it is a mental health or addiction issue.
Intake is the first step, ‘then we kind of take it from there’
As part of the initial intake, the person will get referrals to services that may help them: substance use case management, an office-based addiction treatment, medication-assisted treatment, group therapy, detox or psychiatric care, as examples. Many people have co-occurring disorders, i.e. they may need help with mental health and substance use issues.
“Coming and walking through the door, getting that intake, is going to be that first step, and then we kind of take it from there and try to get them involved in anything that can be beneficial,” Taylor-Bell said.
The need in the Valley has “ebbs and flows,” Taylor-Bell told AFP, with intakes at VCSB ranging from 200 to 350 new people per month.
Valley Community Services Board, and other CSBs in the state, are open to anyone: uninsured or insured, employed or unemployed, a U.S citizen or immigrant, someone here on asylum or not.
If the person seeking services doesn’t have insurance, they may get them connected to a benefits coordinator who may be able to get them Medicaid. They also offer a sliding scale fee for those who may need to pay for treatment.
“Our goal is to try to support the person in the best way we can, and the way I frame it when I help up front is, know the best thing that’ll happen is you get approved for Medicaid, and it pays for everything, including your medical and your dental,” she said. “The worst thing that happens is they say no, and we do a sliding scale fee, so you know, we meet them where they are.”
No timeline on recovery
Recovery can take a lifetime with everyday stressors and triggers threatening to disrupt people who have overcome addictions.
“Each person’s recovery is their own journey, whether that’s mental health or substance abuse,” she said. “You take it day by day, and each day, you’re going to have different stressors. Someone can be in sobriety for 10 years, and they haven’t used any substances, and all of a sudden, they’re walking down the street and see something that triggers them, and they’re like, man, I have a craving right now.”
“We have different steps to help everybody along that journey,” she said.
Whether it’s intensive treatment for an active addiction or help for someone that had a reuse or relapse, she said, they have a spot for them.
Taylor-Bell said VCSB has a number of peer recovery specialists on staff, people with lived experience, who offer support and “walk hand in hand” with their clients.
Normalizing mental health and substance use
They see a little bit of everything during intakes: addictions to methamphetamines, cocaine, psychedelics and marijuana, opiate use and alcohol use disorders. They don’t routinely see users of ketamine, but they have had a few cases.
An addiction can wreak havoc on one’s personal and professional life.
“It can impact everything from their relationships, their ability to maintain employment,” she said. “It could lead to legal issues, medical issues. It can impact many different areas depending on where they are in the use or addiction cycle.”
In many cases, she said, a person might want treatment even if they don’t feel like its impacted their work or relationships but don’t like “the kind of psychological hold that it has” on the person.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the numbers show that you are not alone.
In Virginia, so far this year, there have been more than 2,300 calls for emergency help due to substance use. In Augusta County, there have been 37 calls; Harrisonburg, a little under 200 calls; Waynesboro; a little under 30.
Those numbers only reflect the incidents that are called in; you can imagine, many people never call for help.
“A lot of times, folks are scared to call,” she said.
Another fear for users: a number of substances are being laced right now. Methamphetamine is being laced with fentanyl, and they’ve seen marijuana being laced with cocaine.
VCSB offers test strips that can be used to check for unintended drugs in any substance.
“Know that there are options for free. Anybody can come through our front doors and ask for Rapid Revive, and we can provide Narcan. That is the only medication that’s going to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and we provide that at no charge.
“We just want this in the hand of folks that might possibly be able to use it and prevent someone from dying due to an opioid overdose.”
If you are worried about someone, talk to them about it
If you are worried about someone and feel they may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or drugs, or an addiction, Taylor-Bell, a therapist by trade, said she thinks you should talk to the person about it.
“I’m big on normalizing both mental health and substance use,” she said. “Let’s get it out in the open. That’s how we break stigma, right? And normalize seeking help … It could be calling 988 or depending on where you live, it can be walking through Valley to get an intake or go to a private provider if they want to or getting to Augusta Health.”
She said simply “being there for them” can go a long way.
Her number one recommendation is “saying, hey, I want to help you. I’ve noticed this. I’m concerned, sharing your concerns and just letting them know that you’re there for them.
“It touches everybody. There’s no judgement when they walk through our doors,” Taylor-Bell said. “We just want someone to come in and get help if they need it, and we’re trying to support them the best we can.
Addiction: Signs to look for
- Different engagement with you
- Irritability
- Different behavior, outside of their norm
- Staying up for a long time
- Being tired, nodding off
- Not liking things they once enjoyed
- Difficulty at work
- Distancing themselves from friends
- Distancing themselves from friends that do not use substances
Resources
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
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Crystal Graham
