Treatment of substance abuse addiction, rehabilitation and daily life support
Municipalities are responsible for organising services for people with substance abuse problems. Municipalities may organise the services themselves, together with other municipalities, or purchase services from private or third-sector service providers. The services can also be organised together with mental health services.
According to section 7 of the Act on Welfare for Substance Abusers (41/1986), "Substance abuse services must be provided to persons with problems related to the use of intoxicants, and to their loved ones and other family members. Services shall be provided based on the need for assistance, support and care of the person, his or her family and other family members. “
Information on the services targeted at people with substance abuse problems in each municipality can be found on the municipalities’ websites or at the municipal health centre or social welfare office.
This page describes services intended for people with substance abuse problems at a general level.
- Sobering-up treatment can be provided at emergency care, detoxification and rehabilitation units. Sobering-up treatment units may also be connected to police custody shelters.
- Detoxification and withdrawal treatment aims to stop the acute substance abuse and create preconditions for recovery.
- Longer-term substance abuse rehabilitation aims to support recovery from substance addiction and coping with longer-term problems in the life situation caused by intoxicants.
- Rehabilitation provided as outpatient care can be supported by inpatient rehabilitation periods.
- The purpose of post-rehabilitation is to help those recovering from substance addiction to build an independent life and new daily routines after they have stopped using intoxicants. This may also include vocational rehabilitation.
- Help for coping with substance abuse problems or reducing the harm caused by substance abuse is available through many different low-threshold services intended for people with substance abuse problems, including needle exchange services for drug users and day activity centres.
- Housing services can include emergency housing services providing short-term shelter or services providing long-term housing and related support.
- Diseases caused by intoxicants — such as liver and pancreatic diseases, organic brain syndromes, intoxication, alcohol addiction and poisonings — are treated in the outpatient clinics at hospitals and the inpatient wards of health centres and hospitals.
- Substance abuse services aimed at a more specific target group include e.g. services intended for substance-abusing pregnant women.
Health centres can provide help for those concerned about their substance use and related illnesses. Health care centres can also provide detoxification treatment. Social welfare services can provide support in solving various social problems. Health care centres and social welfare services also provide information on the units providing treatment for people with substance abuse problems in a municipality and other support available locally, such as peer groups.
Special expertise in the treatment and rehabilitation of people with substance abuse problems can be found at the A-Clinics, youth stations and similar outpatient substance abuse treatment units, the mental health services in primary health care and psychiatry units in specialised medical care. You can personally contact the A-Clinics and similar outpatient care units for substance abuse treatment and book an appointment. If necessary, the outpatient care provider will refer you to inpatient treatment or rehabilitation.
Emergency services provide support for acute, intoxicant-related problems and illnesses. People may be referred to special medical care as necessary for the treatment of substance addiction or other substance-abuse-related conditions requiring specialised medical care.
