Practical Life Issues

Sound advice from an addiction specialist, Dr. Steven M. Melemis, on what can lead to relapse, how to recognize the early warning signs, and how to stay in recovery.

This useful guide to relapse prevention includes getting support, understanding relapse warning signs, developing a plan of action to prevent relapse, and what to avoid in recovery.

Discusses the causes of relapse, how to prevent it, and how to deal with it.

These approaches are practical, realistic and do-able. A good guide to follow to maintain your recovery.

Provides employment and training related-services for workers, youth, and businesses. There are 2,400 AJCs nationwide.

Sponsored by the US Department of Labor, the website can help you learn about different careers, find training, do a job search and find local help. Under Resources there is targeted information for older workers, laid-off workers, veterans, ex-offenders, workers with disabilities and more. Also in Spanish.

Community Voice Mail gives a free phone number and free voicemail to help people in crisis and transition link to jobs, housing and stability. The program has 50 sites serving more than 40,000 people in 372 cities across the U.S. Instructions on how to get a free phone number and voicemail and locations by state are given.

This interactive tool for job seekers and students helps you learn more about your career choices. It covers the tasks, skills, salaries and more for over 900 different careers. You can find careers through a simple text word search, by browsing industries that hire different types of workers, or through the Interest Profiler, a tool that offers career suggestions based on your interests and work experience.

The National H.I.R.E. Network (Helping Individuals with criminal records Re-Enter through Employment) covers state agencies and community organizations that offer job-related and legal services, answer questions, and give referrals to other organizations that help people with a criminal record.

Runs apprenticeship programs to help build successful careers. You will get paid, receive hands-on career training, and national industry certification from partners they work with.

A website where sober people can search for and message with potential roommates by state who match what they are looking for. You control what personal information you share and who you share it with. The cost to join is a one-time payment of $4.99.

This private charity provides direct information to the homeless. The Need Help? section lists online local, state and national directories, Things to Do if You May Become Homeless in a Few Days, and Things to Do if You May Become Homeless in a Few Weeks.

Recovery high schools combine academics with addiction counselling and psychological therapies to help students in recovery. There are currently 38 recovery high schools across 14 U.S. states, with an additional 5 schools in development. Click here to find a school in the U.S.

ARHE represents collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) and collegiate recovery communities (CRCs), their faculty, staff, and students. A CRP offers support on campus for a lifestyle of recovery. The Resource page provides information on student opportunities to participate in and connect with others.

Provides an online National Collegiate Recovery Directory by state.

Provides a map for locating school-based recovery support programs and services for those in grades 6 through 12 and in college. You can search for resources by geographic area using the map tool or launch the full online application from any map point.

This brochure explains the Federal laws about discriminating against people who are receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid addiction (known as MAT). MAT includes medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and oral naltrexone used for detox or treatment. The brochure gives basic information to help you exercise your rights and know where to turn for help.

132 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations are funded in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. If you are looking for help with a civil legal problem, enter an address or city to find a legal aid organization near you.

This is an online legal advice clinic. Select your state on the home page. Qualifying users post their civil (not criminal) law question to their state's website. Lawyers who volunteer choose questions to answer and then email you with legal information and advice. You can use this website to ask 3 different legal questions per year.

Since 2008 the ADA has ensured equal opportunities in employment, government services, public accommodations, and more for people with disabilities—including those with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Protecting the privacy of patient information is crucial in substance use disorder treatment. With this protection, you can seek help without worrying that your diagnosis or treatment information will be disclosed without your consent.

Federal and state laws do not allow discrimination in housing because of a disability, including recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. You are protected as long as you are not currently using an addictive substance. This includes protection from discrimination in renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, or seeking housing assistance.
To file a complaint about housing discrimination contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A national campaign of people and organizations who work towards government policies that help people with recovery and post-recovery issues. These include access to treatment, reversal of policies that discriminate against people in recovery, and removal of barriers raised by the stigma against addiction.

An organization committed to ending the stigma that surrounds addiction by shaping public policy and educating people about substance use disorders and the needs of recovery. To become an advocate for addiction recovery you can call 651-213-4568 or email them.

Works to fight for more effective programs to treat addiction and remove the stigma associated with it. They provide listings of Actions You Can Take Now to help. Sign up to join the movement

The FMLA Act gives employees who are seeking treatment the option of unpaid work leave. It offers up to 12 weeks leave within 12 months based on specific reasons, such as a referral from a medical professional. Workers are eligible for this leave if they cannot perform their job functions. It does not cover people who miss work because of drugs but are not seeking treatment.

This brochure covers your rights under federal laws that protect you from discrimination in employment and job training, housing, government services, health care and education.

On the homepage, select your location and use the drop-down menu to choose volunteering. Once on the page under Issue Areas you can select Substance Abuse & Addiction or any other issues you are interested in. Make sure to click on Use Location to keep the opportunities in your area.

Enter the city or zip code that you would like to volunteer in, then click to Find Opportunities.