More support beyond testing

Testing is a starting point

A drug or alcohol test can tell you that something is wrong. It cannot tell you why, and it cannot fix it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that testing does not diagnose a substance use disorder and should not be the only basis for decisions about care. What helps people get better is support: the right treatment, a stable place to live, someone to be accountable to, and a way to afford care.

That is why Blackburn Monitoring is built as a gateway. We are part of The Blackburn Group, which includes therapy and psychiatric care, sober living, mentoring and a nonprofit that offers treatment scholarships. Whether you are testing with us now or just starting to look for help, these are the next steps we can connect you with.

Therapy and psychiatric care

Blackburn Clinical Services provides therapy and psychiatric care in Los Angeles. If a test result has raised hard questions, or if substance use is tangled up with anxiety, depression, trauma or other mental health concerns, a clinician can help you understand what is going on and build a plan. Talking with a clinician is the right step when you want to know how serious a problem is, which is something a drug test alone cannot tell you. With your permission, your monitoring results can also help your clinician see how things are going between sessions.

Sober living

Blackburn Recovery Services has offered sober living and sober apartments for men in West Los Angeles since 2014. Sometimes the problem is not willpower but environment. If home is not a safe place to stay sober right now, or if someone is leaving treatment and needs structure, a sober living setting adds daily accountability, community and routine. Monitoring and sober living can work together, or one can lead to the other as needs change.

One-on-one mentoring

Blackburn Mentoring offers one-on-one mentoring for accountability and structure. A mentor is a consistent person who checks in, helps you set goals and follow through, and notices when things start to slip. Mentoring pairs well with a testing program: the test gives an objective record, and the mentor helps with the day-to-day work behind it.

Scholarship help for treatment

The Blackburn Foundation is our 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It offers treatment scholarships for people who need care and cannot cover the full cost. If money is the main thing standing between you or someone you love and treatment, ask your coordinator about the Foundation or visit its site to learn how scholarships work.

How to know what you need

You do not have to figure this out alone. Here are some common situations and where people often start:

• “I am not sure how serious this is.” Start by talking with a clinician at Blackburn Clinical Services.
• “They keep relapsing at home.” Talk with us about whether sober living could help.
• “They are doing okay but need structure.” Consider a random testing program paired with one-on-one mentoring.
• “We cannot afford treatment.” Ask about Blackburn Foundation scholarships and the free SAMHSA National Helpline.
• “I just need to know the truth first.” Book a one-time test and decide next steps from there.

Your monitoring coordinator can make the introduction to any Blackburn program, so you do not have to tell your story from the beginning to someone new.

Help outside Blackburn

We want you to get the right help, even if it is not with us. The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free, confidential and available every day for treatment referrals and information. For families, NIDA’s Family Checkup offers practical guidance for talking with young people about drugs. If drinking is the concern, NIAAA’s Rethinking Drinking is a good, evidence-based place to start.

If someone is in danger

Do not wait for an appointment if someone may hurt themselves or may have overdosed.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). For a medical emergency or suspected overdose, call 911. For free, confidential treatment referrals any time, the SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357.

Start with a conversation

Call us and tell us what is happening. We will listen, explain your options, and help you take the next step, whether that is testing, treatment or both. Learn about ongoing monitoring, read how it works, or contact us.