Help Me

dear mind: help me

Addiction can be a scary ugly disease, but you don’t have to face it alone. Understanding the brain’s role in substance use disorders can help eliminate the stigma associated with the illness. Drugs change the brain in ways that make it extremely difficult for individuals to quit, even when they want to and despite consequences of use. Over time individuals build up a tolerance, meaning larger amounts of the substance are needed to achieve the desired effect. Sadly, people can become consumed by trying to obtain drugs and/or alcohol, resulting in them doing things they normally would not do and hurting people they care about. Substance use can have negative consequences in multiple areas of one’s life, including, but not limited to work, social and family relationships, school, leisure activities and medical problems.

Although there is not a cure for addiction, treatment is available and recovery is possible. Find local resources here.

Addiction is scary, but you don’t have to fear it alone.

Support for addiction and substance abuse is here, click here to use the Mental Health America Screening Tool

If you or someone you know is in need of treatment, please call BCBH – Drug & Alcohol Unit (724) 847-6220

12 Step self-help groups such as AA and NA are a great way to find sober supports. Click here for a listing of all local meetings.

Did You Know

• Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment.
• Drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990.
• From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 Americans died from accidental overdose.
• From 2012 to 2019, Beaver County lost 412 residents to accidental overdose.
• Most Beaver County overdose deaths occur in the 25 – 34 age demographic.
• It takes an average of 2 years for a parent to realize a child has a substance use disorder.
• Alcohol and drug addiction cost the U.S. economy over $600 billion every year.
• In 2017, 34.2 million Americans were charged withDUI, 21.4 million under the influence of alcohol and 12.8 million under the influence of drugs.
• About 20% of Americans who have depression or an anxiety disorder also have a co-occurring substance use disorder.
• More than 90% of people who have an addiction started to drink alcohol or use drugs before they were 18 years old.
• Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are most likely to use addictive drugs.

America is in the middle of an opioid epidemic.

Basic things you can do to help in this battle:

• Immediately dispose of any unused prescription medications at one of the prescription drug take back boxes located throughout the county. Click here to find one closest to you.
• Have Narcan© (Naloxone) available in the event someone would overdose. Naloxone training and distribution is available by contacting Kate Lowery at 724-847-6225. Naloxone is also available at pharmacies.
• Talk about it. Educate the people in your life about the risks and harms of substance use.

For additional statistics about substance use and overdoses visit https://www.overdosefreepa.pitt.edu

If you or someone you know is in need of treatment, please call BCBH – Drug & Alcohol Unit (724) 847-6220

12 Step self-help groups such as AA and NA are a great way to find sober supports. Click here for a listing of all local meetings.

Please note: Online screening tools are a quick overview of common symptoms and are not used alone to make a diagnosis. To discuss the results of a screening tool, please schedule an appointment with a healthcare or behavioral health professional.