Affordable drug treatment in Collin County is difficult to find if you do not have insurance. At Elevated Sober Living, we have encountered obstacles assisting clients with entering drug treatment and it is imperative that changes are made. As a therapist in Collin/Dallas Counties, I am aware that there is state funded insurance available for both mental health and substance abuse. However, it has become apparent that this insurance is not as available as it is marketed. For example, if your drug of choice does not result in a potentially deadly withdrawal, you are not eligible for state funded detox. Further, there are no beds available for detox and residential treatment IN Collin County. Our residents must travel outside of Collin County for inpatient drug treatment. What is even more frightening is that there is a waiting list for outpatient drug treatment in Collin County. Suppose your adult child with no insurance was admitted to the hospital for an overdose. After he is released, he is given referrals for drug treatment and told that there is a waiting list for an indefinite period of time. During this time, he is told to attend 12 step meetings and “stop using.” This is dangerous, particularly for IV Heroin users. If they return to use after a period of abstinence, they run a high risk of overdosing.
In Collin County, the state has allocated funds for substance abuse treatment as follows:
1 adult detox bed
5 adult residential beds
28 adult outpatient slots
2 youth outpatient slots
2 youth residential admissions for 60 days
109 medical assisted treatment (methadone maintenance)
The problem is far greater than this amount of financial help can provide. The Census Bureau estimated that the population of Collin County in 2016 was 939,585. What this information tells us is that in Collin County, only one adult resident without employer based insurance can be in a detox facility at a time. ONE! Collin County has the reputation for being wealthy and our residents turn their heads at the growing drug problem. President Trump has declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. Collin County is not an exception to this emergency which makes the above data problematic.
In a sober living facility, we are not equipped to manage detox symptoms. We want to assist people with moving forward, provide them with life skills and the tools for recovery but often times they need treatment in order to live in a sober living environment and learn skills to be employable. The lack of services and available drug treatment is a vicious cycle which results in continuous relapse, criminal behavior to support drug habits and homelessness. If you or someone you know is looking for the first step into recovery, look into 12 step meetings and sponsorship: AA Dallas or Dallas Area NA. Please contact any of us today if we can help you begin your recovery journey.