We’re here for you! Don’t be afraid to get help for alcohol and substance use
Stress and anxiety are a part of everyone’s lives now and then. But for some of us, these issues can really be a big problem. This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or someone you care about has turned to alcohol or drugs to help cope, please don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all have trouble now and then, and there’s no shame in getting support to help you deal with things.
As a Columbia Pacific CCO member, there are several substance use disorder services that are part of your benefits. These include:
- Individual and group counseling
- Substance use treatment (including outpatient and residential treatment)
- Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid use
- Detox
- Peer recovery support
- Smoking Cessation
Learn more about your substance use disorder benefits here.
IMPORTANT: You do not need to call Columbia Pacific CCO for a referral for most of these services from a network provider. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) or contact a substance use disorder treatment services provider directly. You can find a list of these providers in the provider directory or call Customer Service at 503-488-2822 or toll-free 855-722-8206, TTY 711.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call one of the following numbers or call 911:
- Columbia County: 503-782-4499
- Clatsop County: 503-325-5724
- Tillamook County: 503-842-8201, ext. 294 or toll-free 800-962-2851
Do you have a problem with alcohol use?
The CAGE questionnaire is a common way to help people find out. The name of the questionnaire comes from its four questions:
- Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
- Do you get Annoyed at criticism of your drinking?
- Do you ever feel Guilty about your drinking?
- Do you ever take an Early-morning drink to get the day started or get rid of the “shakes”?
If you answer yes to even one of these questions, you or your loved one may have a problem with alcohol. Talk to your PCP if you feel you or a family member may have an alcohol problem.
Do you have a problem with substance use?
The links to the screening tools below can help you figure out if you or a loved one need help:
- The Drug Abuse Screening Test may be used by adults age 21 and older as a self-test tool.
- The CRAFFT Screening Questions is a short questionnaire for kids and young adults under the age of 21. If your child answers yes to two or more of the questions, please get help. This questionnaire is also available in Vietnamese and Spanish.
When to use the Emergency Department
If you believe your health is in danger, go to the nearest hospital or call 911 for help.
A medical emergency is when you have severe symptoms. These symptoms can be things like chest pain, head trauma, symptoms of acute withdrawal, not breathing or mental distress. Mental distress can include feeling out of control or like you could hurt yourself or someone else.
If you think you are experiencing an emergency related to drug or alcohol use, go to the ER right away. You don’t need to call your doctor or health plan first.
Telehealth visits
All network substance use treatment providers are still open to see new or existing patients. Some services are available in person, and many can be provided by telephone or video. This is called a “telehealth” visit. To find out what kind of visit is right for you, please ask your provider.
We’re here for you! It’s ok to ask for help
There are a lot of different ways to treat drug and alcohol use issues. But the first step is to ask for help! It might not always feel like it, but there are many caring people who want to help you get better. And they won’t judge you. Start by calling your PCP or Customer Service. Or you can find a substance use disorder treatment provider and call them directly. Not sure if you are ready to get treatment? Substance use disorder treatment providers have peer recovery specialists who can talk to you. These are people who have been through struggles like yours and can relate to what you’re going through.
Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable, but please don’t wait.
More helpful resources
Understanding addiction as a health issue
COVID-19 questions and answers: For people who use drugs or have substance use disorder
The unique challenges of COVID-19 for people in recovery
Refuge Recovery: a Buddhist path to recovering from addiction
Four tales of overdose survival (novella-format comic book)
OxyContin: Protect your teens (Spanish version)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for teens: The science behind drug abuse
