Several weeks ago Barb and Brian suspected that their son, Tim, was using alcohol or drugs.
They did an online screening at www.drugfree.org, and were shocked to learn that Tim had many classic symptoms of addiction. Barb and Brian received help confronting Tim through Brian's employee assistance program at work. Since that time they have learned more than they ever thought possible about how the system works for adolescents who need help.
They knew that Maine Township High School District 207 has a Student Assistance Program (SAP) at Maine South, East and West. The program provides resources and help for students and parents. Barb went there to get some information about resources, but Tim felt uncomfortable with people at school knowing that he had a problem. Barb and Brian understood, telling Tim that they would give him list of treatment facilities.
One of the family's main concerns was how to build time for treatment into their lives. Barb and Brian worked full-time, and they would need to factor in commuting time as well as time for treatment for Tim and family meetings. They realized that addiction affects the whole family, and as parents they would need to be fully involved.
They were looking for a program that involved different levels of care, including education, intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) and inpatient care, if necessary. The SAP counselor, as well as the employee assistance professional, advised them that it was likely that Tim would need an IOP. That typically involves treatment three nights per week from 6-9 p.m. for about four to six weeks. Graduates of the program are encouraged to participate in aftercare meetings at least once a week. Family meetings for all of them would be strongly encouraged.
Barb had been advised by the SAP counselor to contact the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation, or MCYAF, (847)-571-3189. MYCAF's mission is 'A collaborative community effort to increase overall community capacity for advocacy, education, guidance and resources for families to promote drug- and alcohol-free youth.' Trish Williams, the prevention specialist at MYCAF, gave her a list of resources.
Brian then did a Mapquest search to determine which program would be most accessible from Park Ridge. The results using the Pickwick Theatre as ground zero included:
• FAIR -- Families and Adolescents in Recovery, (847) 359-5192, Schaumburg, 14 miles.
• Omni Youth Service -- (847) 353-1500, Buffalo Grove, 17.52 miles.
• Peer services -- (847)-657-7337, Glenview, 6.1 miles.
• Northwest Community Hospital -- (847) 618-1000, Arlington Heights, 12.76 miles.
The family was disappointed to learn that both Advocate Behavioral Health/Lutheran General and Keys To Recovery/Resurrection Hospital did not have an adolescent IOP program. Not only would those programs have been much more accessible to Park Ridge residents, but they would have been more equipped to handle the medical emergencies frequently associated with addiction.
The last piece can also be the most challenging -- insurance coverage. Though the family had used their insurance for medical appointments, no one had ever used their behavioral health benefits before. They learned that behavioral health is frequently 'carved out' of their regular benefits. This means that they may have separate insurance companies for medical and behavioral health.
Taking Tim to an out-of-network treatment facility could cost the family thousands of extra dollars. Barb learned this when she called the special phone number on the back of her insurance card.
Barb was just grateful that they had insurance -- Maine Center for Mental Health (847) 297-2510 is the state-funded agency for Park Ridge, but the combination of funding cuts and extreme demand made it difficult for Tim to begin treatment quickly.
It's a long and winding road to recovery, but worth every step of the way.
-- Terri Schmidt, a licensed clinical social worker, writes 'To Your Good Health' for the Park Ridge Community Health Commission
