While this varies with your insurance, usually if you go to an in-network facility, your insurance covers treatment and you will be responsible for a modest co-payment. Contact your insurance company to understand what your out-of-pocket responsibility would be. The UFT Member Assistance Program may be able to help with insurance pre-authorization, allowing you to get the maximum benefit of being in treatment.

Depending on the history of your use, it can be therapeutic to take a break from your everyday environment and go somewhere where you can focus on understanding the nature of your addiction and learn new coping strategies to deal with cravings and triggers. While inpatient rehab is typically recommended because it offers the most comprehensive support, there are outpatient and short-term inpatient programs that can provide less disruption to your everyday life. The Member Assistance Program has vetted and established relationships with several treatment facilities that can offer you the support you are looking for.

Drug detoxification, or detox, is sometimes the first step in a comprehensive rehabilitation program, depending on what substances you are using. Detox can prevent unpleasant or fatal consequences that can arise from sudden cessation of use. It is often done in an approved clinical setting, under the supervision of a medical professional who will provide medication or other supports to aid with some of the uncomfortable aspects of withdrawal (the aftermath of stopping a substance completely). Because suddenly stopping a drug is dangerous, detox is often recommended in a site that is medically appropriate to address both your psychological and physical needs.

Contact the UFT Member Assistance Program if you need further assistance. 

Rehabilitation services (or “rehab”) are meant to help a patient reset some of the patterns that have led to the cycle of the addiction process. Rehab is where you stay at a facility for a set amount of time (up to 28 days, but can be shorter or longer), but it is also voluntary. Voluntary means that you go at will and if you decide to leave before the clinical recommendation, you may be able to do so. Outpatient treatment means you go to a local treatment center and participate in scheduled group and individual therapy. Outpatient treatment can be done during the night or even on weekends, which will allow you to continue engaging in your daily activities.

Contact the UFT Member Assistance Program for further information. 

Treatment varies depending on the addictive behavior being displayed. Recommendations for treatment are based on a thorough evaluation of the relationship you have with the substance(s)/behaviors you are engaging in. More intense treatment could involve going into an inpatient rehab facility for up to 28 days, where you will receive individual, group, and other forms of treatment such as recreational therapy, trauma therapy, or acupuncture. Less intense treatment may involve outpatient individual and group counseling.

Treatment for addictive behaviors typically entails group and individual therapy. There are also medications available, which can help with mental health symptoms or cravings. In group therapy, you will meet with others who are also struggling with addiction where you will learn strategies to manage what you’re experiencing and support each other. Groups are a crucial component of addiction treatment because it helps you to form a community in which you will hold each other accountable for the thoughts and feelings that can spiral into behaviors that increase the likelihood of relapse. Individual therapy is a way to have a more in-depth connection with one’s inner resources in maintaining sobriety.

Contact the UFT Member Assistance Program for further information. 

The Member Assistance Program is committed to your well-being. Apart from offering short-term counseling services, MAP offers confidential support around addiction with a trained professional who can assess mental health and substance use issues and provide specific recommendations for your treatment. We can also help you understand your workplace rights and file for a confidential leave. MAP’s team of professional counselors can work with union members and their families who are suffering from addiction behaviors. Contact MAP at 212-701-9620 or via email at maprecovery [at] uft [dot] org (MAPrecovery[at]uft[dot]org).

There is no limit to the number of times you can use the UFT Mental Health Helpline. Please note that the helpline is not a substitute for long-term counseling and you are not guaranteed to receive the same counselor every time you call. 

Contacting the UFT Mental Health Helpline is free of charge as a benefit of being a UFT member. The cost of services by external providers that the helpline may refer you to is based on various factors. Please check with your health insurance provider for information on your benefits. 

Both MAP and the UFT Mental Health Helpline are confidential services. Exceptions to confidentiality only occur if you are at imminent risk to yourself or others. 

If your call is mental health related, yes! If your call is related to other union-related inquiries, no.

Please call the UFT Call Center at 212-331-6311 for any non-mental health related inquiries – including information about leaves, pension, salary or grievances. If these situations are causing you stress, the UFT Mental Health Helpline can provide mental health support, and then will direct you to the UFT Call Center to assist with the specifics of your situation.