For a listing of all state certified substance abuse treatment programs in Maryland, visit the Maryland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration - Resource Directory.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)
Howard County Public School System

If a parent or guardian suspects that his/her child is drinking or using drugs, they have three options:

A) They can take their child directly to any of the state-certified adolescent alcohol and drug treatment counselors for a drug test and evaluation. The cost of the evaluation is approximately $300.

Where to Get Teen Drug Assessments, Tests and Treatment

A Better Way Counseling Services	Bonnie Goldschmidt	410-730-4500
Columbia Addictions/Teens at Risk	Eileen Dewey	410-730-1333
Howard County Health Department	Mary Ann Warnke	410-313-3784
Integrative Counseling	Mark Donovan	410-740-8067

OR

B) They can download the Health Department's Adolescent Substance Abuse Referral Form (Fee Waiver Form) and take their child directly to the Health Department for a drug evaluation and test. The fee can only be waived if the child does not already have an alcohol or other drug-related school suspension or legal charge. If the child has already been "in trouble", they can still get a drug evaluation and test, without a referral form, for a fee of $10.

As of January 2008, walk-in evaluations are offered at the Health Department's Counseling Center at 7178 Gateway Drive, as follows:

Monday 12 - 2 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 - 2:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Mary Ann Warnke at 410-313-DRUG (3784.)

OR

C) They can get a FREE Assessment via the School System. A parent can talk to the Student Assistance Program Coordinator at their public high school, explain their concerns about their child, and get an SAP Referral Form for Substance Abuse Evaluation. Both the Howard County Health Department and Integrative Counseling have agreements with the Howard County schools to provide FREE screenings for students suspected to be drug or alcohol involved.

This means that a parent can contact his or her child's school SAP Team (start with the Guidance Department and ask for the SAP Coordinator) and explain the concern. The parent should then request an SAP referral form. The school staff SAP person will then fill out the form and give back to the parent to bring at the time of the free screening.

Please remember: the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome.

• What is substance abuse (or chemical dependency)?
• What are the signs and symptoms of substance abuse?
• What should I do if someone I love has a substance abuse problem?
• What are the State-certified levels of care for substance abuse?
• 2004 State Certified Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs in Howard County

What is substance abuse (or chemical dependency)?

Substance Abuse is a negative pattern of use that leads to impairment or distress in any or all of the following areas:

1. Recurrent use that results in decreased competency, problems at work, school, or home, or failure in any of these areas.
2. Recurrent use in which it is physically hazardous to use (driving or operating a machine, sexual activities, etc.).
3. Substance-related legal problems.
4. Continued use despite persistent social or interpersonal problems that are caused or exacerbated by use (most often expressed via family, school, work, or friends’ concern about the substance use).

Chemical Dependency is the normal progression of the above, if left untreated. Chemical dependency is a serious, sometimes fatal disease, which does respond to treatment. Dependency is characterized by:

1. Tolerance: A need for more of the substance to achieve the desired effect.
2. Withdrawal: Physical symptoms are felt when the substance is absent from the body and/or when the same or closely related substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
3. The substance is often taken in a larger amount or over a longer period than the user intended.
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use.
5. A great deal of time is spent obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance’s effects.
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are reduced or given up because of substance use (early retirement, hobbies, school/sports expulsions, etc.).
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge that it will have a serious impact on one’s life (marital, school, family, job, or serious health problems).

What are the signs and symptoms of substance abuse?

A substance abuser may display the following:

• Withdrawn, depressed, tired, careless about personal grooming.
• Hostile and uncooperative; frequently breaks curfews.
• Relationships with family and/or friends have deteriorated.
• Hangs around with a new group of friends.
• Grades have slipped and school attendance is irregular.
• Loses interest in hobbies, sports, and other favorite activities.
• Eating or sleeping patterns have changed; up at night and sleeps during the day.
• Hard time concentrating.
• Eyes are red and/or nose is runny in the absence of a cold and/or there is coughing, wheezing, bruises or needle marks.
• Household money has been disappearing or you find unaccounted-for cash.
• Sudden use of perfume, cologne, breath mints, incense.
• Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions.
• You find alcohol bottles or drug paraphernalia.

What should I do if someone I love has a substance abuse problem?

• Be aware that you do make a difference! Research shows that people benefit tremendously from efforts of others to help and encourage them.
• If someone you love has a problem you can (and should) confront their use and behaviors.
• If the person is a student in a Howard County Public School, contact the guidance counselor or any school staff person to initiate a confidential Student Assistance Program referral. This is a non-punitive process to get help and support for the student, and they will not know that you made the referral.
• Acknowledge that there is a problem. Denial/minimization occurs as often with the family, work, school, or friend as it does with the user.
• Know that you cannot control, cure or fix the problem. But you can get help!

What are the State-certified levels of care for substance abuse?

Drug-Free Residential – Includes the therapeutic community (a long term psycho-social program which focuses on behavior change through a highly regimented, encounter group therapeutic approach), as well as adolescent group homes.

Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) – Residential treatment facility for alcohol and drug clients who do not require hospitalization. Program provides an intensive drug treatment regimen of individual and group therapy as well as other activities aimed at the physical, psychological, and social recovery of the addicted individual. Clients usually remain in residence for 2-6 weeks.

Halfway House – Transitional residential care facility providing time-limited services to clients who have received prior evaluation or treatment in a primary or intermediate care program. Clients are expected to seek employment and move to a position of personal and economic self-sufficiency.

Intensive Outpatient – An organized service delivered by addiction professionals or addiction-credentialed clinicians, which provides a planned regiment of treatment, consisting of regularly scheduled sessions within a structured program, for a minimum of 9 hours of treatment per week for adults and 6 hours of treatment per week for adolescents.

Outpatient – Non-residential program that provides diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for lcohol and/or drug abusers. The client’s physical and emotional status should allow him/her to function with support in his/her usual home/work environments. Less than 9 hours per week.

Medication-Assisted Treatment – Non-residential program employing methadone or other medication in the detoxification or maintenance treatment of Opioid dependency. Other treatment or rehabilitation are employed as part of the treatment regimen.

Early Intervention – Services that explore and address any problems or risk factors that appear to be related to use of alcohol and other drugs and that help the individual to recognize the harmful consequences of inappropriate use. Such individuals may not appear to meet the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder, but require early intervention for education and further assessment.

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10451 Twin Rivers Rd., Suite 404, Columbia, MD 21044
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