Iowa offers various types of services and resources to help and assist Iowans, no matter the age. Click on a tab below to learn more about each topic.
In a Crisis?
Experiencing a crisis can be scary. Whether it's related to alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health, or suicidal thoughts. It can be difficult to know what to do or who to turn to.
Iowa has crisis services to meet you where you are. No matter the nature of the crisis. If you need someone to talk to, 988 and YLI are here for you. If you need someone to come to you, we have mobile crisis teams at the ready. If you need a safe place to be, we can help make that happen. These services save lives. Click the button below to learn about Iowa's behavioral health crisis resources.
Preventing substance misuse and gambling related problems
Looking for help to address a problem in the community? Prevention professionals across the state can assist communities by:
- Identifying community needs based on review of data
- Providing prevention education programs and trainings
- Serving as a resource to your community on effective prevention services
Learn More about Prevention Prevention Priorities in Iowa Contact a Prevention Specialist
Help for Alcohol, Drug use or Gambling
Looking for help for yourself or someone you love? Treatment programs across Iowa can help. Every day, individuals learn to take back their lives from addiction. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind while you look for help:
- You'll work with an addictive disorder professional. Their goal is to help individuals along their recovery journey.
- Programs assign patients to a treatment team. Team members are other licensed or certified professionals (nurses, psychologist, psychiatrist, recovery coaches, recovery navigators, etc.). They also support the individual in meeting their goals.
- Programs invite family members to be part of the treatment process. It is important for families to be part of the treatment process. This helps with their understanding of addiction, treatment and recovery.
- Addiction is a chronic disease. Ongoing support is also important. Your treatment team members will support you after leaving treatment. This could be ongoing counseling, recovery coaching, sober housing, or even employment support.
There are many types of treatment and for you it may include one or more of these:
- Outpatient: Frequency of appointments will vary on the individual's situation and program expectations. In some cases, sessions are weekly, but could also be daily, or several times per week. Individual, group, and educational sessions are common. How long treatment may last will vary depending on each individual’s situation.
- Residential: Sometimes, individuals need a safe place and daily support in their recovery journey. Residential treatment provides a stable treatment setting, keeping individuals safe in early recovery. It will also help the individual develop and practice recovery skills and behaviors. Residential care may last from a few weeks to a few months, or longer, depending on the individual's needs.
- Withdrawal Management: Sometimes, individuals need help with symptoms of withdrawal from a specific drug (s). Once withdrawal symptoms are stable, an individual can then move on to the next step in treatment. Length of care is usually a few days.
- Medication Therapy: Assessment of current medications and any related problems. Creating a plan to resolve and improve outcomes.
- Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment: At times, people will have mental health issues and substance use issues. Getting integrated care for both at the same time is important for success. Co-occurring services treat the whole person. These services can be in outpatient and residential settings.
Learn more about your Health & Alcohol Learn more about your Health & Drugs
Help to improve your Mental Health
There are many types of treatment and for you it may include one or more of these:
- Outpatient Therapy: Frequency of appointments will vary on the individual's situation and program expectations. In some cases, sessions are weekly, but could also be daily, or several times per week. Individual, group, and educational sessions are common. How long treatment may last will vary depending on each individual’s situation.
- Medication Management: The monitoring of the medications prescribed for a patient.
- Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment: At times, people will have mental health issues and substance use issues. Getting integrated care for both at the same time is important for success. Co-occurring services treat the whole person.
Looking for information about crisis services in Iowa? Click the button below.
Making the Call
A few things to know before you call:
- Everyone seeking treatment will meet with a counselor to complete an assessment. The assessment identifies the type of treatment that's the best fit. No one type of treatment is right for everyone; to work, the treatment needs to meet your individual needs. While in treatment, your counselor continues to reassess your treatment needs.
- In some cases, an assessment indicates withdrawal management is the next step.
- Withdrawal can at times be severe (hallucinations, tremors, etc.). Withdrawal management uses medication to keep them safe. Length of care is usually a few days.
- Withdrawal management can take place at a hospital, residential unit, or outpatient program. In all cases, the patient is under close medical supervision.
- Withdrawal management, for some people, is the first step in treatment.
When you call
When you call, program staff will ask questions about yourself. You can ask questions too. Answering the questions as best you can is important to match you to the right services. Many facilities offer same day or walk-in services.
Questions you may be asked
- Calling for yourself or another individual?
- Types of drugs or alcohol used, how much and for how long.
- Are you pregnant?
- What medications are you taking?
- Financial resources you may have to pay for treatment (insurance, money from a loved one, etc.)
Questions you may want to ask
- When can I get an appointment?
- How much will treatment cost?
- Do you accept my insurance?
- What do I need to bring? What should I not bring?
- How do I get to the program? Is there public transportation? Can you pick me up?
- Other questions that are important for you and your situation:
- Is smoking allowed?
- Childcare options available?
- What medications am I allowed to bring?
- How will my family be part of my treatment?