Community Resources

Prevention, Intervention & Treatment

Alcoholics Anonymous Phone: 803-254-5301 (Columbia Area AA Hotline)
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

For local information about AA call the number listed above or visit the website at http://www.area62.org/intergroup/columbia.htm.

The local schedule is posted on this site and persons seeking help for the first time should attend an open meeting.

Gamblers Anonymous International Service Office
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Our primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council Phone: 803-540-7680
1) LRADAC, The Behavioral Health Center of the Midlands is the county authority for the prevention, intervention and treatment of substance abuse for Richland and Lexington Counties. LRADAC offers a wide variety of programs to combat substance abuse in our community. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the above number or visit www.LRADAC.org.

2) The USC Intervention Program is a joint project between LRADAC and USC's Office of Judicial Affairs. College students violating USC's alcohol and drug policies are required to complete various sanctions. Depending on the sanction, USC sends students to LRADAC for an alcohol and drug assessment, educational classes, and treatment as well as involvement in community service hours. Most students participate in drug testing. Students complete a variety of community service activities from administrative support to assisting with clients on LRADAC's Detox Unit. Upon completion of the program, students write an essay about what they learned as a result of participation in the program.

3) The Alcohol Diversionary Program (ADP) is designed to discourage future underage drinking through a series of sessions that help achieve attitude and behavior changes in young people. These changes will reduce participants' risk of alcohol and drug problems throughout their lives. The program's non-judgmental approach and persuasion-based teaching process reduces resistance to the life-saving information presented and increases a student's openness to change. The information is based on documented research findings rather than opinion, exaggerations, or scare tactics. Participation in this program will maximize the likelihood that young people will change high-risk behaviors and increase their chances of maintaining LIFE scholarships while avoiding a criminal record.

Referrals to ADP are made in court by Magistrate and Municipal Court judges and law enforcement. The participant pays an enrollment fee of $250 to ADP and then a $100 fee for the four 2-hour counseling sessions. Upon completion, the participant may apply to the court for expungement of record. The expungement order fee is $150. The participant is then returned to the same legal status before the arrest occurred.
For more information, call 576-1850.

Narcotics Anonymous Phone: 803-254-6262
Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 31,000 weekly meetings in over 100 countries worldwide. Membership is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. There are no social, religious, economic, racial, ethnic, national, genders, or class-status membership restrictions. There are no dues or fees for membership. Narcotics
Anonymous provides a recovery process and support network inextricably linked together. One of the keys to NA's success is the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free productive lives through the application of the principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA.

The National Council on Problem Gambling Phone: 202-547-9204
The National Council on Problem Gambling is the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. The mission of the NCPG is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education.24Hr. Confidential Hotline: 1-800-522-4700

Check DAODAS – Gamblingfor details about gambling addiction services, prevention opportunities, and DAODAS' general information on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

South Carolina Department of Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Services Phone: 803-896-5555
DAODAS partners with public, private and social sector organizations to provide quality prevention, intervention and treatment services for the citizens of South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.