How to get treatment with limited resources?

[xburtonchic]

I'm backk... hi everyone!! :D

I need some advice as I'm in a tough spot at the moment and am having a hard time getting the help I need. First a quick explanation... basically my addiction finally spiralled out of control... which I totally knew was coming if I kept using, so I have no one to blame but myself really. Anyway I got arrested twice for possession in a period of about three months. Possession is just a cite and release now in Cali, so all you have to do is go down to the station and get booked, then sit there for a few hours until they give you your court date and you go home. Because of this, I was able to keep my family, friends, and work in the dark. However, due to circumstances that were actually out of my control, as of about two weeks ago that is no longer the case. Basically what happened was this: When I went to my court date for the first arrest, my name wasn't on the court roster, so I went to the clerk's office to ask where I was supposed to be. They told me I wasn't actually supposed to be there that day and to come back in October (the court date I was given for the second arrest). I figured I either got lucky and the first one disappeared from the system somehow or that they were simply combining the two court dates, and went home thinking I was supposed to come back in October.

Well as it turns out they fucked up on their end somehow, because on my way to work two weeks ago I got pulled over and arrested for a freaking warrant... they said I never went to court at all!! WTF!! YES I DID. So I had to spend the night at the station until they took me to court the next day. I ended up missing work that day (obviously), and showing up super late for my shift the next day. Also, because I needed to let my work know what was going on SOMEHOW, I had no choice but to contact my family from the station and tell them what was going on. And just like that, it was over and my secret was out. A shitty situation, one that seemed incredibly unfair at the time and couldn't figure out why it was happening to me, but it ended up being for the best because it pushed me to get help. I came completely clean to my family and my work. I was incredibly lucky because they were all supportive. My work told me that although a no call/no show was grounds for immediate termination, because of the circumstances, they would allow me to keep my job if I went to treatment. So they put me on medical leave so I could go to a treatment program. That's where I need some advice.

The problem is, I needed to be at a program, like, YESTERDAY... but it turns out that it's not actually as simple as I thought it would be to get into a program. I'm having a hard time finding a place that will accept my insurance to where I don't have to pay for anything. I'm not getting paid while I'm on medical leave, so money is extremely tight. All the state-funded free programs have waiting lists, which I literally do not have the time to do. So if anyone has any advice on how I can get into a treatment program fast... and for free or at least super cheap... that would be amazing!! Thanks, SL Here's to hoping that this time it sticks!!

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I'm so glad to see you're still alive and kicking (literally and figuratively )!!

I was getting worried about you because I hadn't spoken to you in so long.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

The problem is, I needed to be at a program, like, YESTERDAY... but it turns out that it's not actually as simple as I thought it would be to get into a program. I'm having a hard time finding a place that will accept my insurance to where I don't have to pay for anything. I'm not getting paid while I'm on medical leave, so money is extremely tight. All the state-funded free programs have waiting lists, which I literally do not have the time to do. So if anyone has any advice on how I can get into a treatment program fast... and for free or at least super cheap... that would be amazing!! Thanks, SL Here's to hoping that this time it sticks!!

I can ask around. I know a lot of people who work in the treatment community.

Have you considered just doing out-patient Suboxone therapy? Or is your work expecting you do in-patient / residential?

 

[phactor]

If you call into state funded treatment centers and they tell you to call everyday then do it! Lots of people don't and you could be told you will have to wait a month or two and end up getting in a week. I always encouraged my clients to call a bunch of places and make a list of all there numbers and put it somewhere you will see it in the morning. Make several copies of this and keep one in car, wallet etc.

Glad to hear you are still alive, I was wondering how you were doing. Sounds like you've accepted the fact that some of us just cannot use drugs, even if everything appears to be going well on the outside.

I hate to say this, but if you do not have insurance and need to get into a place like today you might just have to bite the bullet at setup a payment plan somewhere. I have known people who have done this, usually its when they are faced with either treatment or accepting severe severe consequence (something like major health problems, possible prison sentence) etc etc.

Treatment and addiction are just not treated like the major health problems that are in the US. The funding for services is pitiful.

Getting honest with you family will be a huge help. Did they have any idea something was wrong? Mine always did, my "secret' was very obvious because I was fucked up all the time. The only person I was keeping my addiction from was myself, because it was just a way I did not have to face it.