CAN HELP Offer physical and psychological evaluation services to determine the nature of the problem and to make treatment recommendations. Provide outpatient counseling to help develop other ways of coping with stress and anxiety. Provide inpatient treatment programs if outpatient counseling has not been helpful and a more intensive program is needed. Put you in touch with community-based support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Provide help for family members who are affected by dependency on drugs or alcohol through individual or group counseling, Al Anon, or AlAteen.
People sometimes have difficulty admitting they have a problem with drugs or alcohol.
It is important for your doctor to be aware of your problem since drug or alcohol abuse can interfere with cancer treatment and its side effects. Health-care professionals are very willing to help if you can be honest about the problem. They will refer you to either a hospital or community-based program. If you are unwilling to discuss this with your doctor and still want help, you can also call Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Drug and alcohol treatment programs are available within some general hospitals or in specialized hospitals devoted to these problems.