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: 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: 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