GuidesPlain, practical guides for families, individuals and professionals.
When someone you love is struggling
7 guides- 1
What to Do in a Mental Health or Substance Crisis in Los Angeles
A step-by-step guide: crisis or urgent, what 988 does, LA County mobile crisis teams, when to call 911, overdose response and what comes after.
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How to Help a Loved One Who Won’t Accept Help
A practical family guide: when to act, what to say, boundaries vs enabling, how a professional intervention works, and how to care for yourself.
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How to Choose an Interventionist
A practical guide to choosing an interventionist: what they do, what to ask, red flags to avoid and what comes after the meeting.
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Support for Families: Taking Care of Yourself While Someone You Love Struggles
A practical guide to caring for yourself, setting boundaries and finding support when someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health.
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When Addiction and Mental Health Overlap: Co-Occurring Disorders
A plain guide to co-occurring disorders, why addiction and mental health need to be treated together, and how families can help.
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5150 Holds, CARE Court and Conservatorship in California: A Family Guide
A plain guide to 5150 holds, CARE Court and conservatorship in California for Los Angeles families whose loved one refuses help.
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What to Expect at a Family Intervention, Step by Step
A practical guide to what actually happens at a professional family intervention, from the first planning call to the first day after the meeting.
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Teens, students and young adults
5 guides- 8
Signs a Teen Needs Mental Health Support
A practical guide to telling normal teen moodiness from warning signs, and what parents can do next.
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Teen Cannabis and Vaping: When to Worry
A practical guide to today’s cannabis and vapes, the signs of teen use, and when to get outside help.
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How to Help a Young Adult Who Feels Stuck
A practical guide to helping a son or daughter between 18 and 26 who is stuck at home, unmotivated or isolated, and knowing when outside help makes sense.
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Helping a College Student Who Is Struggling
A practical guide to supporting a college student who is failing classes, isolated, anxious, partying heavily or thinking about leaving school.
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ADHD Evaluation for Teens, College Students and Adults
A practical guide to recognizing ADHD in teens, college students and adults, and what a thorough evaluation and treatment look like.
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Evaluation and clinical care
6 guides- 13
Case Management, Mentoring or Therapy: Which Does Someone Need?
A plain guide to case management, mentoring and therapy: what each is and is not, signs each fits, how they work together, and what to ask a provider.
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What Happens at a Psychiatric Evaluation
A practical guide to preparing for a first psychiatry appointment and understanding what comes after.
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What Is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A plain guide to neuropsychological testing for teens and adults: what it is, what happens, and how to use the report at school.
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Outpatient Detox at Home: What to Know
A practical guide to medically supervised detox at home: who it may fit, when it is not safe, and what should come next.
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What Does a Case Manager Do in Addiction and Mental Health Care?
A practical guide to the day-to-day work of a case manager, a good first month, and signs it is working.
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Gene Testing for Psychiatric Medication: What It Can and Cannot Tell You
A plain guide to pharmacogenomic testing: how it works, what the FDA says, its limits and questions to ask.
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After treatment and staying safe
7 guides- 19
After Treatment: Planning the First 90 Days at Home
A practical guide to planning the first 90 days at home after residential or outpatient treatment, for families and the person coming home.
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Relapse Warning Signs and What to Do
A practical guide to spotting relapse warning signs early, building a prevention plan, and staying safe if use happens.
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How Drug and Alcohol Monitoring Works
A plain guide to drug and alcohol monitoring: test types, random schedules, consent, results, prescriptions and what a positive result means.
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Mental Health and Substance Use in Los Angeles County: Key Statistics
Sourced numbers on overdose, suicide, mental illness and youth wellbeing in LA County, with the year for each figure and what it means for families.
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Fentanyl and Naloxone: What Los Angeles Families Should Know
A practical guide to fentanyl, fake pills, overdose signs and using naloxone, written for Los Angeles parents and families.
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Returning to Work After Treatment: A Guide for Licensed Professionals
A practical guide to returning to work after treatment for doctors, nurses, lawyers, pilots, executives and their families.
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Court-Ordered Drug and Alcohol Testing in California: A Family Guide
A practical guide to court-ordered testing in California, from what an order may require to keeping records and working with your attorney.
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Choosing and paying for care
2 guides- 26
How to Vet an Addiction or Mental Health Treatment Program
A practical guide to checking a treatment program’s license, clinical care and aftercare, and spotting red flags before you choose.
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Ways to Pay for Addiction and Mental Health Treatment
A plain overview of ways to pay for treatment: insurance, employer programs, Medi-Cal, sliding scale, scholarships and warning signs to watch for.
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For organizations and productions
1 guideGlossary
Words you keep hearing, defined in plain language.