Frequently Asked Questions:

SAFE

Question:  What is Substance Abuse Treatment?

Answer: A variety of scientifically based approaches to drug addiction treatment exist. Drug addiction treatment can include behavioral therapy (such as counseling, cognitive therapy, or psychotherapy), medications, or their combination. Behavioral therapies offer people strategies for coping with their drug cravings, teach them ways to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and help them deal with relapse if it occurs. When a person's drug-related behavior places him or her at higher risk for AIDS or other infectious diseases, behavioral therapies can help to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Case management and referral to other medical, psychological, and social services are crucial components of treatment for many patients. The best programs provide a combination of therapies and other services to meet the needs of the individual patient, which are shaped by such issues as age, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, parenting, housing, and employment, as well as physical and sexual abuse.
Treatment medications, such as methadone, LAAM, and naltrexone, are available for individuals addicted to opiates. Nicotine preparations (patches, gum, nasal spray) and bupropion are available for individuals addicted to nicotine
It is important to note that GPASS-SAFE does not provide medication as part of our substance abuse treatment.  We use a combination of behavioral therapy, case management and social services in our treatment of your addiction.

Question: What are some signs that I may have a substance abuse problem?

Answer: It can be difficult to assess an individual’s substance use without appropriate training, but if you or a loved one is suffering from some of the following symptoms, you may want to consider a professional evaluation:

Behaviors to look for include:

1. A repeating failure to meet social, occupational or familial duties:

Repeated lateness or absence
Poor work performance
Neglect of children, etc.

1. Bizarre or lame excuses for social, occupational or family failures
2. Borrowing (or stealing) money without good reasons.
3. Uncharacteristic mood or personality changes

Physical signs may include:

1. Puncture marks, or long thin lines along the arms or legs (IV drug use such as heroin)
2. Drowsiness, or loss of coordination (depressant drugs such as alcohol)
3. Red or bloodshot eyes (secondary to smoking marijuana)
4. Drug-related smells on clothing (drugs that are smoked)
5. Drug-related paraphernalia (pipes, 'works', pill bottles, small plastic bags or vials, lighters, etc.)

Medical signs (only apparent upon formal testing) may include:

1. Positive findings of drug related metabolic (break-down) byproducts in the urine, blood or hair.
2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) (may point to alcoholism)
3. Elevated levels of the liver enzyme 'delta-glutamic transferase' (GGT) (may point to alcoholism)
4. Enlarged red blood cells (may point to alcoholism)

Question:  Can I stop using drugs on my own?
Answer: Research has shown that long-term drug use results in significant changes in brain function that persist long after the individual stops using drugs. These drug-induced changes in brain function may have many behavioral consequences, including the compulsion to use drugs despite adverse consequences – which is a defining characteristic of addiction.
Understanding that addiction has such an important biological component may help explain an individual's difficulty in achieving and maintaining abstinence without treatment. Psychological stress from work or family problems, social cues (such as meeting individuals from one's drug-using past), or the environment (such as encountering streets, objects, or even smells associated with drug use) can interact with biological factors to hinder attainment of sustained abstinence and make relapse more likely. Research studies indicate that even the most severely addicted individuals can participate actively in treatment and that active participation is essential to good outcomes.

Question: How effective is substance abuse treatment?
Answer: In addition to stopping drug use, the goal of treatment is to return the individual to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and community. Measures of effectiveness typically include levels of criminal behavior, family functioning, employability, and medical condition. Overall, treatment of addiction is as successful as treatment of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
According to several studies, drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and significantly decreases criminal activity during and after treatment.

Question: How long does treatment typically last?
Answer:  Treatment at GPASS-SAFE can last anywhere from 6-12 months.  This is an abstract timeframe and depends on the client’s specific needs and progress.  It is entirely possible that you can be discharged for successful completion of treatment before 6 months, or after 12 – depending on your progress.

UESF

Am I eligible for help?
You are eligible for assistance if you meet several criteria. You must be a resident of Philadelphia, are within the income guidelines set forth by UESF and have not received a grant from UESF in the past two years. Additionally, bills in excess of $500 must be accompanied by payment above the UESF grant.

How often can I apply for assistance?
If you are approved for a grant, you may receive one grant in a two calendar year period. You will then become eligible on the second anniversary of your grant if you are income eligible.

Where do I go to apply?
You can call the central office at (215) 972-5170 or visit the Intake Sites page on this web site.

How much money will UESF grant?
The maximum allowable grant is $500.00. If the bill is in excess of $500, you are required to pay the balance.

Doesn't the government help low-income households? The Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides funds to low-income homes. An additional resource, Crisis, is also available to assist people typically during the winter months. UESF provides emergency grants and is a supplement program rather than a replacement for government assistance.

How long does it take once the application is completed?
If someone is facing utility termination, when the client has been interviewed at one of the 13 intake sites and found eligible, a call from UESF to will stop the shut off immediately. From that point, the utility company will hold the status for 60 days to complete the transactions.

How are donations used?
Your donation will go directly to help a low-income household in need of assistance. Unlike other non-profit organizations, no donation is ever used for operational support. Each dollar that is donated to UESF has a direct impact in the community.

Where do I go for weatherization help?
The utility companies can provide you with resources for weatherization assistance if you qualify. In addition, the neighborhood energy centers and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation will provide weatherization assistance.

Does UESF provide other assistance?
UESF will provide assistance for homebound residents. The Program Director will conduct the interview by telephone and through correspondence. Additionally, some residents may be eligible for other assistance that UESF can assist in seeking.

Can UESF help me when I am on a budget plan with the utility company?
UESF can only help when you have a shut off notice and the grant will cover the balance.

Will UESF provide air conditioners?
UESF does not provide clients with heaters, air conditioners or fans. There are other programs that may be of assistance with that request.

I don't live in Philadelphia, who can help me? There are numerous programs in the Philadelphia area that will assist low-income households with utility assistance. Project Reach in Montgomery County, Delco Shares Its Warmth in Delaware County, Chester County Cares in Chester County and Project Heat in Bucks County may be of assistance.