The Response - 10

Any Illness Needs Treatment
	Addiction is a brain disease, and not a moral issue. The disease of
addiction has no regard for age, gender, race, ethnicity, economic
status or neighborhood. Anyone can be affected by addiction, but
with appropriate treatment, individuals can enter into recovery.

Does Someone I Care About
Need Treatment?
❑ Do you question whether dependency on drugs or alcohol
is a problem for someone you care about?

❑ Do they use drugs or alcohol to handle stress or escape from
life's problems?

❑ Have they unsuccessfully tried to cut down or quit using
drugs or alcohol?

❑ Have they ever been in trouble with the law, or been
arrested because of drug or alcohol usage?

❑ Do they avoid people or places that do not support their
drug or alcohol usage?

❑ Do they do things under the influence that they would not
normally do?

The more 'yes" answers, the more likely there
is a substance abuse problem.

How to Talk About Treatment

	 It can be difficult to talk about treatment. Family intervention
services are available to help loved ones express their concern
and provide the opportunity to enter treatment. These services
work with the goal of motivating the individual suffering from a
substance use disorder to get the help he or she needs.

What If My Loved One Isn't Motivated
to Enter Treatment?

	 Don't lose hope. Some individuals may need multiple courses
of treatment, and some fight entering treatment. Remember, your
loved one is sick, but there is hope in recovery. For more about support
for loved ones, please contact the TASC office at (610) 375-4426
or visit www.berkstasc.org.

Emergency Help

	 Individuals arriving at an emergency room due to an overdose,
or presenting severe withdrawal symptoms, are welcomed as part
of the Warm Hand-off Program. Once the individual is medically
stable, a certified recovery specialist (CRS) meets with the survivor
on site at the hospital and assists him or her in engaging in
treatment and recovery services. The Warm Hand-off Program is
offered at both Reading Hospital and Penn State Health St. Joseph.
For more information about this program, please contact the
TASC office at (610) 375-4426.

Offering Berks County the necessary prevention,
intervention, treatment, and recovery resources
to respond to the complex problems of
substance use and addiction.

(610) 376-8669 I www.cocaberks.org
10

the response // summer/fall 2018
http://www.berkstasc.org http://www.cocaberks.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Response
