Question: Hello. I am currently trying to find my sister a residential treatment facility that is affordable. She has no insurance and can not apply for insurance as she is currently incarcerated. My sister has battled addiction for a very long time and recently began using and selling heroin. She needs help but I can not find anything that my family can afford with nio insurance. Can you please help me?

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Thank you for reaching out with an important question. My heart goes out to your sister and to your family. Treatment of every form is very expensive and for the uninsured it's often unattainable. The best resource I have seen for the uninsured are faith based rehabilitation programs. The Salvation Army in particular has been helpful to a lot of folks I've served. The Christianity of programs like these is objectionable to a lot of folks in early recovery and I urge them to use the "buffet approach" (take what you like and leave the rest). Try this link from SAMHSA for further options: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ Very best to you and yours, JIm

Question: Hi I was taking 2mg of lorazepam for months and I start to taper off in July this year, so far the withdrawal was insomnia. now I am down to 0.5mg for 1 and a half month. Tonight I am unable to fall asleep at 0.5mg of lorazepam I do not know why ( I do not know if it is still withdrawal since I have been stable for 1 month or I am addicted to it and I need more to sleep?) )I need to wash off lorazepam since I have to return to work in Feb2015. Please advise thanks amy

Dr. Stuart Shipko Says...:

My short eBook entitled Xanax Withdrawal http://xanaxwithdrawalbook.com/  has information which is equally appropriate for stopping Ativan, which will be of some help to you as your taper progresses.  There is not a single correct strategy for stopping.  At this dose, some patients are able to stop without further tapering.  Most people will cut down to 0.25 mg before stopping completely.  My approach in tapering is quite flexible, and it is patient driven.  If a dosage cut is too difficult, I support taking small extra dosages or reinstating the last comfortable dose and then trying the taper again later.  If you only have a month before returning to work, then it is likely that you will still be having withdrawal symptoms of some sort at that time.  Over the years I have found that it is not typically necessary to be off of work to stop taking drugs like Ativan.

Good luck to you.

Question: I am not on Medicaid I live between Johnstown and Greensburg Pa. We spend 800$ month for 12 mili a day due to the fact they don't take private insurance. I do not think this is fair while others get paid for their fuel and meds by the state on Medicaid and guzzle over 100 mili a day. Please help I just want someone to take my insurance for 5-6 weeks while I dose rest way out thanks

Anna Deeds Says...:

Thank you for your question. Your question did not make it clear what you are taking 12 milligrams of but I am assuming it is methadone from the price you mentioned. You are correct that a lot of people on methadone are on Medicaid which pays for methadone as well as travel expenses. I am unaware of any methadone clinics in your area that take private insurance. I agree that this is not fair. It puts people who work at a disadvantage. It almost encourages people on methadone to not work because most of your salary ends up paying for your medication. 

However, there are a couple options you can try. First, call your insurance company. There should be a number on the back of your insurance card. Ask your insurance company if they cover methadone for addiction. Methadone can be used for addiction or pain management. You need to know if they cover it for addiction if you go to a methadone clinic. If you get methadone from a doctor for pain, then you need to know if they cover it for pain. I'm assuming that you go to a clinic. If you go to a methadone clinic and your insurance does cover methadone for addiction, ask them if there are any other methadone clinics in your area that take your insurance. If there aren't, ask how you can be reimbursed for your costs.

Some private insurances do cover methadone. Your methadone clinic may not take the insurance but if your insurance covers methadone you can be reimbursed for some or all of your costs. For a provider to take any insurance, they have to go through a complicated credentialing process. Many of the methadone clinics aren't credentialed but this doesn't mean your insurance doesn't pay for methadone, only that the clinic doesn't take your insurance. So, you would have to send your receipts and fill out some forms to get your insurance to reimburse you for what you pay to the clinic. It is possible that they cover all of your costs or a percentage. For example, they may pay 80% and you pay 20%. Even if they only pay a percentage, this would save you a lot of money.

Second, consider switching to Suboxone. If your insurance doesn't cover methadone, it may cover Suboxone. If you need to do this, be sure the Suboxone doctor is aware you were on methadone. They may need to give you Subutex for the first few days or they may ask you to wait three to five days after your last dose of methadone to begin the Suboxone. Suboxone has a blocker in it that will cause withdrawal symptoms if you take it while there is methadone in your system.

Just to review, here is what yo need to do:

• Call your insurance company
• Ask your insurance company if they cover methadone for addiction
• Ask if there are any clinics who take your insurance
• Ask if they can reimburse you
• Ask if they cover Suboxone

my profile and give me a call if you need more help.

Question: I used Xanax .5 mg for sleep and anxiety..I am now out and scared to dearth of withdraw. What am I in store for that way with the withdraw.? I work full time and can't take time off work. Thank you

Dr. Stuart Shipko Says...:

The withdrawal is not going to be the same for everyone.  A dosage of 0.5 mg once nightly is fairly low.  There may be little or no withdrawal, particularly if the drug has been taken for only a few weeks or months.  Sometimes withdrawal can be more uncomfortable, but this is a dosage not usually associated with serious complications such as seizures.  I know that there are a lot of scary stories about Xanax withdrawal on the Internet, but the people who had little difficulty are not going to be motivated to post on a message board.  Because expectation and placebo play a large part in the Xanax withdrawal experience, you want to hope for the best and have a positive attitude.

Question: I had really painful loneliness in middle school and early high school. I remember constantly roaming the halls at lunch because I didn’t have any friends to sit with and to sit somewhere alone seemed too pathetic. Better to at least look like I was on my way to someone or somewhere (don’t think I was fooling anyone). Anyway, later in high school I found drugs and booze and I loved them and with them I fell into the ‘druggy’ group and that was priceless to me and that just made me love getting high more. Getting high literally solved all of my problems in one fell swoop. OK now fast forward 20 years. Now I am married and with kids and I am 19 months clean and sober. The problem is I never learned how to make friends or have relationships other than by getting high and getting rejected socially is so painful to me I have a really hard time with putting myself out there. Honestly I can’t even talk about this with my wife. I feel like I have to deal with this pain of my past and I have to learn how to make friends and I have to overcome my social problems that caused my life-long social problems and I have to do all of this very painful and difficult stuff without relapsing. How should I do this?

Anna Deeds Says...:

Thank you for your question. First, you don't have to do all this alone. Try talking to your wife about the problems you are facing. Your wife is there to support you. Second, consider getting into counseling. A counselor can help you develop the social skills that you didn't develop at an early age. Third, consider a support group for people with social anxiety. This kind of group is designed to help people who have trouble with social situations get comfortable by practicing their social skills in a safe setting. Fourth, consider going to AA or NA meetings. You will be surprised how many people at meetings would relate if you told them how uncomfortable you are with making friends. If you think about your "druggy" friends from school, I bet they were all socially awkward and didn't fit in most social groups. These are the same types of people who will be in AA and NA meetings, only they will be 20 years older too. Also, check out this article for some other ideas about how to make friends in recovery.

Question: I am looking for a drug treatment center for my husband, who is currently at Righteous Oaks in MS. All it is is preaching, no 'meat' at all. He will be there until January. He then wants to go to a place where he can work the 12 steps, and have one on one counseling and really work on his issues. We have no insurance. And I am unemployed. Is there a place that is affordable? Thanks so much! Jenna

Lita Perna Says...:

I have provided a list of facilities in your area.

Drug treatment is expensive. Call these places. Ask for referals from each of them if they can't offer a negotiated reasonable rate you and your husband can afford.

Has your husband checked to see if he is eligible for Medicaid?

He can contact community mental health centers in your neighborhood. They may be able to refer him for financial and treatment help.

And now for you.

Here's a question for you to think about: Why are you, instead of your husband looking for another treatment facility?

Isn't this his responsibility, his job and his treatment?

Why did you write instead of him?

Your husband making the calls to find a more suitable place is an importand and essential step towards his taking responsibility for his recovery. 

Here is a start:

• Special Care Hospital Man Corp: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug program, Residential short term sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug treatment, Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Baptist Memorial Hospital: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Residential short term drug rehab program sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term drug rehab treatment sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Pine Grove Recovery Center: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Residential short term drug rehab program sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term drug rehab treatment sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug program, Residential short term sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug treatment, Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Saint Dominic Behavioral Health Servs: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug rehab, Hospital inpatient substance abuse program, Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab
  
• Common Bond Association Inc: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug program, Residential short term sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug treatment, Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• South Central Regional Medical Center: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Residential short term drug rehab program sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term drug rehab treatment sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Extra Mile Sober Living Residence Program: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - for inpatient rehab.
• East Mississippi State Hospital: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Residential short term drug rehab program sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term drug rehab treatment sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Alliance Health Centre: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug rehab, Hospital inpatient substance abuse program, Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Parkwood Behavioral Health System: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug program, Residential short term sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug treatment, Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• North Mississippi Medical Center: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug rehab, Hospital inpatient substance abuse program, Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Marian Hill Chemical Dependency Center: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Residential short term drug rehab program sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term drug rehab treatment sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug rehab/Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.
• Mississippi State Hospital: Inpatient Drug Rehab Mississippi - Hospital inpatient drug program, Residential short term sober living (30 days or less), Residential long term sober living (more than 30 days), Outpatient drug rehab, Partial hospitalization drug treatment, Substance abuse day treatment for inpatient rehab.

...And another question for you; How have you been taking care of yourself lately?

Question: HEY JIM MY NAMES JOHN HOW ARE YOU, I JUST HAVE A QUICK ?, IM TRYING TO LOOK FOR A REHAB CENTER BUT WASNT SURE HOW TO ADMIT MYSELF WITH NO MONEY OR INSURANCE, IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY AROUND JOINING WITH NO MONEY?

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Hi John,

Wish I had better news for you - rehab without insurance/money is very tough indeed.

Couple things - first, if you're going through any type of withdrawal, get to your local emergency room. They do not have to provide rehabilitation but they legally must treat you if you're medically compromised - they have to at least stabilize you.

Second - grab a phone book and call every rehab within 200 miles and ask if they have any scholarships or assistance for those without insurance.

Next - check with your local Department of Health & Human Services - I am wondering if you may qualify for Medicaid and if so that will help (still be rough but way better than nothing).

Next - get yourself to local AA and NA meetings - they have the answers you need and they're not only free - they're the true experts as far as I'm concerned. Unless you're in a very rural area, you can probably hit several meetings a day and those folks will do more to help you stay clean than anyone anywhere.

Good luck!

Question: Know any rehabs that work with couples who are addicts, and that are free? My boyfriend and I want to go to rehab but we are homeless and cannot afford to pay, and we want to go together...

Lita Perna Says...:

Try

Gold Country Alliance-Mentally

520 N Main St

Angels Camp, CA 95222

Tel (209) 736-4264

*******************

Find the biggest city near you and begin calling mental health centers and drug programs to ask their suggestions where you can go for help. Try to get the name of the person you are talking to and write it down.

Keep trying different cities near to you and then further away.

Be prepared to spend hours and to make many, many phone calls. Be prepared to be frustrated.

If you are serious about this and willing to work to save your life (because it has become a matter of life and death...hasn't it?) you will succeed.

Question: My boyfriend was addicted to painkillers for over a year, and then found a doctor to put him on Suboxone which he tapered off of for a little over a year. Now that he is completly free of these drugs, he is still having trouble sleeping through the night. He is asleep from about 11 until 3 or 4 most nights. He is getting very stressed from this even though he isnt really tired during the day. He wants to find a doctor to put him on sleeping pills because he thinks he has a sleep disorder, but i think its still from his body not being back to normal after his addiction. He has been off suboxone for about 5 months now. Is this normal, or is there any advice he should know? I really dont think another pill is a solution to his problem.

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Kudos to you and your boyfriend for making this journey and becoming drug free. Sleep disturbances in the first 18 months of being clean and sober are very common. I tend to favor simple solutions and I can appreciate your concern that seeking medications as a quick fix might be less than ideal. I would consider how it is that he deals with stress and feelings of nervousness, worry, anxiety as these too are very common in early recovery from addiction. In the past he used opiates to deal with life and his feelings - I would be curious to know how he copes with life on life's terms and how his physical health is. If he has not had a recent check up (physical) or if he is having other symptoms it makes sense to see his doctor. If he is not dealing with stress, life and/or his emotions these will interfere with sleep and I say try natural outlets before meds. Good luck to you both!

Jim

Question: I am a crack addict I guess because I can't stop using. I thought that because I only binged on weekends I had it under control but after enough Monday mornings feeling like death and promising myself and my girlfriend who also indulges that I'd never do it again I made a serious try at actually not smoking this last weekend and by Friday midnight I was calling my dealer every five minutes demanding a meet up and then it was at home all weekend with the curtains drawn, as usual. I can't afford rehab and I can't stop so what do I do? Should I try to cut down by buying less or by limiting my access to money on weekends in advance? Does this ever work?

Dr. Stuart Shipko Says...:

Given your circumstances, it would seem like your best option is to contact Cocaine Anonymous to find out where the local meetings are.  You need to work the program - attend meetings daily and get a sponsor.  From what you describe, it is unlikely that you will be able to just cut down without some assistance.