"There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding."

- Erik Erikson

Substance Use

Substance use and addiction impact many families every day. There are many services and laws that can help protect and heal those who utilize substances and their families.

How do you know if it’s an addiction?

Have you felt like you need to cut down on drinking or drug use? 

Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use? 

Has drinking or other drug use caused problems in your social or work life? 

Have you been arrested or had other legal problems related to alcohol or substance use?

When drinking or using drugs or other substances, are you more likely to do something you wouldn't normally do? These things include breaking the law, breaking rules, selling things that are important to you, engaging in unprotected sex and more. 

When you think about stopping the use of alcohol or a substance, do you consider that you may need help coping with withdrawal symptoms?

Answering yes to any or all of these questions may indicate an addiction to a substance, it may be time to reach out for assistance.

Signs and Symptoms of Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal without medical supervision.

When you attempt to stop using alcohol or a substance, do you experience any of the following physical and mental symptoms?

  • Sweating

  • Racing Heart

  • Tremors

  • Insomnia 

  • Vomiting/Nausea

  • Hallucinations

  • Anxiety

  • Seizures

Withdrawal can be dangerous or life threatening without medical supervision. 

Did You Know?

 

Overdose Information
On average, about 200 people die from overdose every day. Overdoses can be prevented and more information can be found about preventing overdose on the National Harm Reduction Coalition website: https://harmreduction.org/all-resources/#overdose-prevention

Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than morphine and heroin, it can be smoked, injected, or snorted, and it is often found in other drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroin, and pressed pills. It is suggested by harmreduction.org to space out doses of these substances and try snorting instead of smoking to avoid a lethal overdose of fentanyl. This is to improve the odds of detection of fentanyl.

GA Amnesty Laws
In the state of Georgia, if you get help for someone who is overdosing, you and the person in need are protected by the law in most cases. More information about Georgia’s amnesty laws can be found at https://recoveryingeorgia.org/harm-prevention/overdose/

Anyone is able to access Naloxone without a prescription. More information and access to Naloxone can be found on https://georgiaoverdoseprevention.org/

Local Resources

AVITA Community Partners Detox & Drug Rehab Center
3509 Mabry Road Gainesville, GA 30504
https://gamtns.org/services/addictive.php
1-800-535-8751
678-960-2700
Ambulatory detox and outpatient rehabilitation services are offered at AVITA, learn more on their website or call to determine space in detox.

J's Place
664 Lanier Park Dr. Gainesville, GA 30501
http://jsplacerecovery.org/
678-316-0403
J’s Place Recovery Center is an organization led by people in long-term recovery. The main goal of J’s Place is to assist those who are still struggling or seeking help with Substance Abuse Disorder. The staff is made up of Peer Recovery Coaches, which are not therapist or doctors, but fellow recovering addicts/alcoholics who are here to support those wanting to maintain or gain sobriety/clean time. J’s Place can help make recovery a little easier by helping peers with resources such as social support and connection, peer-to-peer coaching, non-clinical services, community events, self-help meetings, life skills, and more.

Alcoholics Anonymous
https://www.aageorgia.org/

Narcotics Anonymous
https://negana.org/

Al-Anon
https://www.ga-al-anon.org/
Support for families and friends of people with addictions.