Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Augusta, GA

Rehab Centers, AA & NA Meetings in Augusta, GA

The Augusta metropolitan area has numerous drug and alcohol rehab facilities and hundreds of support group meetings that can help you overcome addiction.

Drug Trends in Richmond County

Drug and alcohol abuse has greatly affected Richmond County. The area experienced between 14.1 and 16.0 lethal overdoses per 100,000 residents in 2014, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many people in the area are using heroin. Dr. William Jacobs, medical director at Bluff Plantation in Augusta, said most of the clients at his facility battle heroin addiction. Many individuals developed this addiction after using prescription opioids.

“Probably 60 percent of the patients that I see are using opiates in some form,” Jacobs told WJBF NewsChannel 6. “Most of them are using heroin.”

Twenty percent of Richmond County adults used tobacco in 2014, according to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, which uses state and national data to measure the health of U.S. counties. That year, 14 percent of Richmond County adults reported excessive drinking. Eighteen percent of driving deaths in the county from 2010 to 2014 involved alcohol.

Drug Prevention in the Greater Augusta Area

Augusta and surrounding cities have made an effort to reduce substance abuse in the area. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations implement initiatives designed to help people avoid drug and alcohol abuse.

• Columbia County Community Connections

  Columbia County Community Connections aims to make area children safe, healthy and educated. The organization runs or contributes to numerous projects intended to assist children in achieving success in school and life.

  The coalition comprises local leaders who use research and data to identify solutions to community challenges. Some of these challenges involve drugs and alcohol.

  In 2015, the organization was awarded the Drug Free Communities Grant. This five-year federal grant is intended to be used to reduce substance use among youth and, over time, among adults by:

  • Addressing substance abuse risk factors within a community
  • Promoting factors that minimize the risk of drug or alcohol abuse

  The organization participates in the Alcohol Prevention Project, a statewide initiative sponsored by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The project aims to prevent alcohol abuse and promote healthy lifestyles and choices among Georgia’s youth.

• Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy

  The Fort Gordon Youth Challenge provides at-risk youth with academic and life-skills training to create productive citizens and improve employment potential. The academy employs a tough, demanding approach to guide youth toward future success, according to its website.

  The academy aims to intervene and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth. Its representatives strive to instill in program graduates the values, skills, education and self-discipline needed to excel as adults. The program’s core elements include subjects such as leadership, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene and life-coping skills.

• Richmond County Division of Family and Children Services

  The Richmond County Division of Family and Children Services implements numerous strategies intended to assist area families in need.

  These tasks include:

  • Investigating reports of child abuse
  • Finding foster and adoptive homes for abused and neglected children
  • Issuing SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and child care assistance to low-income families
  • Providing numerous support services and innovative programs to families in need

  The Division of Family and Children Services also provides welfare and employment support, child protection services and other services designed to assist area families. It provides afterschool services intended to assist youth in successfully transitioning to adulthood, as well.

• Richmond County Sheriff’s Office

  The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office implements various strategies intended to reduce area substance abuse.

  The office hosts a drug take-back program that allows residents to properly dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. A report by WRDW-TV News 12 stated that the sheriff’s office had collected 10 50-gallon bags of expired prescription drugs in an eight-hour span.

  The office’s website has a drug tip submission form, allowing local residents to anonymously report suspicious activity associated with drug use.

  The DUI Task Force strives to detect and apprehend intoxicated drivers. The group operates the Sheriff’s Office DUI Van, equipped with a mobile breathalyzer unit, allowing deputies to process offenders more quickly. The task force averages more than 100 arrests each month and has one of the highest conviction rates in the state.

• Augusta Judicial Circuit Drug Court

  The Augusta Judicial Circuit Drug Court program provides an alternative to incarceration for drug offenders facing charges in Richmond, Columbia and Burke counties. The court-ordered rehab program addresses the participant’s substance abuse problems through a five-phase treatment program.

  Treatment involves a thorough assessment of a person’s drug use. Information from the assessment helps the treatment provider develop a plan designed to address the individual’s specific needs. Outpatient rehab is the model most often used in AJC Drug Court.

  The initiative is a collaborative effort between justice and treatment professionals. The drug court team works together to support program participants, meeting every week to review the progress of each participant.

  Participants must comply with drug court rules. Each person’s performance is communicated directly to the judge, who rewards progress or penalizes poor performance or noncompliance. The purpose of the program is to reduce recidivism rates and help program graduates become productive members of society.

Augusta Schools and Substance Abuse Prevention

Many educational institutions in Richmond County do their part to combat student substance abuse. These schools often implement programs, awareness events and counseling services to steer young people from drugs and alcohol.

Augusta University

The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program at Augusta University provides confidential, one-on-one assessments and counseling services. The program also educates students about the dangers of substance abuse.

In addition, the school offers mental health services to individuals, couples and groups. Urgent walk-in appointments also are available for students with immediate concerns.

Throughout the year, Augusta University implements outreach programs that promote health and wellness, prevent mental health concerns and reduce stigma. These initiatives include topics such as stress management, tobacco cessation and depression.

The institution’s website offers tips on how to reduce drinking and how to recognize substance abuse among loved ones. The site also includes substance abuse resources, including information on nearby 12-step meetings.

Paine College

Paine College offers counseling services that encourage, support and assist students dealing with personal, social, educational and career concerns. The department collaborates with students, faculty and staff to improve the quality of campus life through counseling, outreach programs, consultations and referral services.

The Counseling Center offers services designed to fit the student’s individual needs. The department uses treatment methods that may use cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches.

The department offers numerous workshops each semester that target personal and academic issues affecting college students today. In the past, workshops have discussed self-esteem, depression, relationship issues and stress management.

Paine College may write referrals for students with more complex issues that require long-term therapy. The institution immediately refers students who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, hostile or suicidal to outside resources.

Richmond County School System

The Richmond County School System employs counselors who provide various classroom guidance lessons on topics such as:

• Substance abuse education
• Goal setting and decision making
• Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
• Communication, problem solving and conflict resolution

Counselors also provide individual and small-group counseling, crisis intervention and conflict-resolution sessions. They collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, mental health providers and community organizations to help students achieve and maintain healthy lives.

The Georgia Department of Education includes a division that administers programs that promote substance abuse prevention and education, positive school climates, bullying prevention and suicide prevention.

Vocational Assistance in Richmond County

Finding a job after completing substance abuse treatment can be difficult. Luckily, numerous organizations and institutions in Augusta implement programs designed to help people identify career goals, develop vocational skills and prepare for job interviews.

Salvation Army Job Skills Training Program

The Salvation Army of Augusta’s Men’s Job Skills Training Program teaches people the skills needed to increase self-confidence while becoming more employable. Participants learn new ways to obtain or maintain employment and learn other life skills.

Through this program, individuals learn about money management, train with computers, earn certifications and network with other members. The Salvation Army also offers shelter, daily meals and other supportive services to assist participants.

The Salvation Army of Augusta’s Women’s Job Skills Training Program assists women in identifying goals and developing the skills needed for effective career planning, life enrichment and personal growth.

This three-month program offers numerous seminars and lab experiences to support skill development. The initiative covers topics such as resume development, stress management and financial literacy. Through community donations, participants are eligible to receive free interview and workplace attire upon achieving their goals.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA

Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA offers The Job Connection, a community resource center that connects job seekers with employers. This resource provides computers, internet access and software for resume writing and career exploration.

Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA has a vocational rehabilitation staff that provides workforce development services for people with disabilities. These services include work evaluation, job readiness skills training, career exploration, job coaching and placement services.

College Services

Augusta Technical College provides training and services to support lifelong learning and local workforce development. The Continuing Education and Workforce Training program allows participants to learn skills associated with manufacturing, leadership development, customer service and more.

Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College provides training and services to support lifelong learning and local workforce development. The Continuing Education and Workforce Training program allows participants to learn skills associated with manufacturing, leadership development, customer service and more.

The institution has two One-Stop Career Centers in the Augusta metropolitan area. Both facilities provide information about employment opportunities, training and programs focused on education, social services and the community.

Miller-Motte Technical College

Miller-Motte Technical College in Augusta caters to underemployed workers and those searching for new careers. The institution offers training programs that provide students with the skills and experience needed to find a job and thrive in their careers.

Those considering careers in cosmetology, health care or business could benefit by attending Miller-Motte. Students have access to individualized career planning sessions to help them identify a career path that fits their interests.

The college also offers lifetime career assistance. Its career service team provides career readiness workshops, resume updates, job leads and more.

Virginia College

Virginia College in Augusta offers career-services associates who review student resumes, teach interviewing techniques and counsel for career choice. These representatives also market students’ skills to potential employers and generate job leads.