Location
Our Washington Location
Our inpatient facility is located in Washington, and will serve Washington state. It will provide a safe & therapeutic environment for both our staff and patients.
- Edmonds
7416 212th St SW,
Edmonds, WA 98026
Do You Have Questions About Addiction? Call Our Recovery Experts Now.
Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Resources in the Bellingham, WA Area
People who live in Bellingham, Washington can easily find mental health and addiction recovery resources in their local area. Some may need treatment, detox or rehab, while others may be more interested in support groups or community programs. But what matters most is for people to get the type of help that fits their needs best.
There are a lot of ways for people to get help to recover from addictions or to support their mental health. At Northpoint Washington, we want to direct people to Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings or other types of addiction recovery and mental health resources in Bellingham.
Do You Have Questions About Addiction? Call Our Recovery Experts Now.
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Bellingham, Washington
Detoxing from drugs or alcohol is a very important step in the recovery process. It should be the first step, and there are some types of addictions for which it is required. For example, alcoholics will need to go through alcohol detox in order to deal with their withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxing is a way to purge the body of the toxins that have been left behind after abusing substances. Once those toxins begin to leave the body, withdrawal symptoms result. They can quickly cause anyone to go back to using due to their severity.
A quality detox program offers hope and help to people with addictions. They can get relief from withdrawal and possibly avoid any complications or medical emergencies that might accompany it.
There are two inpatient detox programs that are located within 5 miles of the City of Bellingham. The SAMHSA treatment locator indicates that there are several more in the local area for those who do not mind traveling.
Detoxing is an important step that should not be skipped; especially if it is a requirement for rehab. Those who go through this process often find that they experience better results long-term.
There are six hospitals that offer detox services within a 100-mile radius of Bellingham. The closest one is located almost 50 miles away, and that may not be convenient for many people who need treatment.
The best course of action is to choose a private addiction treatment program that offers detox. They may also have rehabilitation services as well, which is much more convenient, and usually, it is also much more effective.
Inpatient Addiction Recovery near Bellingham
Inpatient treatment is a recovery method in which an addict stays within a facility for some time in order to recover. Many inpatient facilities, including those in and around Bellingham, offer medicated detox programs and intensive counseling programs. Inpatient programs are the most structured and provide the least independence for patients, which is sometimes necessary for recovery.
Inpatient treatment is the most successful recovery route for many people recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Sometimes, some time away and the constant attention of trained medical professionals is just what it takes to kick an addiction or unhealthy habit to the curb.
There are several options for inpatient treatment services in and around Bellingham, and many reasons that inpatient treatment may or may not be right for you. It’s important to learn as much as you can and weigh all your options before deciding on a treatment course. Your path to recovery can make or break your future success in staying sober.
The pros of inpatient addiction treatment include:
- Constant supervision. This decreases the risk of medical emergencies during withdrawal. It also lowers the likelihood of a relapse during recovery.
- Structure. Most inpatient rehab facilities provide their patients with a full schedule of activities. This means that patients have less time to seek out or think about the substance they were abusing or addicted to.
- Time away. Often, those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol recover best by removing themselves from their normal situation. Inpatient rehab allows the patient to focus on themself and not be influenced by friends, family, or environment.
- Support. Inpatient rehab facilities offer 24/7 support for those going through withdrawals or cravings. This decreases the chance of a relapse because someone is always there to encourage and enforce sobriety.
The potential cons to inpatient addiction treatment include:
- Time. Those staying at an inpatient rehab facility while they recover must have the time to take off of work or school to recover. They are usually not allowed to leave the treatment facility during their stay.
- Removal from Support System. For many people, being away from their friends and family during treatment can be difficult. In inpatient facilities, patients have limited, supervised contact with anyone outside the facility in the hopes of cutting off all contact with anyone who would encourage the patient to relapse.
- Money. Because inpatient treatment is all-inclusive, it is usually the most expensive treatment option for those recovering from drug addiction, drug abuse, or alcoholism.
Inpatient treatment has the highest success rates of any recovery method. However, It’s important that each patient finds the recovery method that best serves them, which may be inpatient or outpatient. The best route will depend on the severity of the addiction and many factors unique to the addict. Keep reading to learn about more options.
Outpatient Addiction Recovery in Bellingham
Unlike inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment programs do not involve the patient staying overnight at a rehab facility. Outpatient means that the former addict continues with his or her normal life, only coming into the rehab facility for appointments or group sessions.
Outpatient treatment can be another good option for those trying to break an addiction, abusive habit, or alcoholism. An intensive program with frequent check-ins that allow the patient to continue to live in their own home and stay surrounded by their own support system is often ideal.
There are many outpatient programs near Bellingham, so you have plenty of opportunities to find the one that’s right for you and your recovery process.
If you aren’t sure whether outpatient treatment is right for you, consider the pros and cons of outpatient treatment in Bellingham.
The benefits of outpatient treatment include:
- Time. It is possible for someone to go through outpatient rehab and continue to go to work or school and otherwise continue their normal life.
- Money. Outpatient rehab is usually cheaper than inpatient rehab because the patient is paying only for treatment, not also living costs.
- Support System. For those with supportive friends and families, outpatient treatment can be a good option. They can continue to be around their loved ones while they recover from their addiction.
The potential downsides to outpatient treatment include:
- Unsupervised Time. Any time spent outside the treatment facility is time where a thought about the patient’s drug of choice could lead to seeking out or using that drug. Outpatient treatment means that the patient has a lot of unsupervised time that could easily turn into a relapse to addiction or abuse, which is exactly what the patient is trying to avoid.
- Unenforced Appointments. Those in outpatient rehab are left on their own to make sure they get to appointments on time and cope with cravings in a healthy and positive way. Often, addiction can damage our willpower. Even the strongest-willed addict has the potential to relapse when left unattended or experiencing withdrawal symptoms after missing an appointment.
Remember: Deciding that outpatient treatment isn’t for you doesn’t mean you’re weak. It just means that you want to get all the help you can to make your recovery and journey to sobriety as successful as possible. For some, outpatient treatment works. For others, it doesn’t.
Going to Drug Rehab in Bellingham
People are often nervous when they think about the possibility of going to drug rehab. But there is really nothing to be nervous about. A quality addiction treatment program is often necessary because it allows people to arrest their substance abuse problems safely.
Most people have no idea what it was that caused them to start using drugs. But for many of them, their substance abuse is a direct result of needing to treat a co-occurring disorder, or mental health issue. Drug rehab can help them determine if they do have an underlying condition so that they can get the help they need.
There are seven different facilities that offer drug rehab services in the City of Bellingham. There is an additional one located in Ferndale, which is almost nine miles away. All of these are a combination of inpatient and outpatient programs.
Bellingham Alcohol Rehab Facilities
Alcohol rehab is essential for recovering alcoholics. After going through detox, people need to have a place to go where they can receive therapy. They need to determine what caused their addictions and get help for that underlying cause.
People start drinking for any number of reasons. Many are trying to self-medicate against symptoms of depression and anxiety, but they do not currently have diagnoses in place. Detoxing helps with withdrawal, but unless these issues are dealt with, a relapse is almost always inevitable.
Alcohol rehab gives people the chance to get the help they need. Patients participate in many different forms of therapy, such as individual therapy with a counselor, group therapy and family counseling.
There are nine facilities in the Bellingham area that offer alcohol rehabilitation services. Of those, seven of them are located in the city itself, and they are a mix of inpatient and outpatient programs.
Free Addiction Resources Near Bellingham
Not every method of ensuring a full recovery from addiction costs money. In fact, there are many addiction treatment and recovery options in Bellingham that are completely free. These include groups at community centers and churches as well as more established and wider-spread groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
There are also free addiction resources for the family and friends of addicts and alcoholics. Sometimes, loving an addict can be exhausting and heart-wrenching. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. There are others in Bellingham who feel the same way.
Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a group of people committed to overcoming alcoholism. They ascribe to a 12-step model of recovery. Each participant makes their way through all 12 stages of recovery before becoming a mentor (or sponsor) to others, for whom the process is just beginning.
While the 12 steps of AA can sound religious, AA does not associate itself with any particular religious group, instead focusing on “God as we understand him.”
It takes different people different amounts of time to work their way through the 12 steps, and sometimes, people backslide. Having a sponsor to stay by your side throughout the process can help participants stay focused on their goal - sobriety.
Often, individuals stay involved in AA for years and years after they’ve gone through rehab. Many find it a good way of holding themselves accountable for their sobriety in the future. When you’ve worked hard for something (like sobriety), you want to do everything you can to keep it.
Many former alcoholics have had great success within AA, and the same could be true for you.
The 12 steps of AA are:
- We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol; that our lives had become unmanageable.
- We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
- We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- We admitted to God, ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except where doing so would injure them or others.
- We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted to it.
- We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
If you think Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar 12-step program could be a good fit for you in your recovery journey, check out these AA meetings in Bellingham:
Southside Group
Sundays at 7am
Southside Hall
1113 11th St.
Bellingham, WA
Dry Dock Group
Sundays at 3:30pm
Unit 105
100 Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Our Primary Purpose Group
Mondays at 6am
1939 Grant St.
Bellingham, WA
Northwest Group
Mondays at 4pm
Haskell Business Center
1305 Fraser St.
Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Group
Tuesdays at 12 noon
1311 ½ Railroad Ave
Bellingham, WA
No Name Yet Group
Tuesdays at 4pm
Cordata Food Co-Op
315 Westerly Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Gladstone Book Study Group
Wednesdays at noon
Oikos Fellowship
206 Prospect St.
Bellingham, WA
Salish Group
Wednesdays at 5pm
Lummi Tribal Court
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Fairhaven Group
Thursdays at 7:30pm
St. James Presbyterian Church
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Northwest Group
Thursdays at 7:30pm
Haskell Business Center
1305 Fraser St.
Bellingham, WA
Dry Dock Group
Fridays at 12 noon
100 Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Our Primary Purpose Group
Fridays at 12 noon
1939 Grant St.
Bellingham, WA
Barkley Village Breakfast Group
Saturdays at 7am
Bob’s Burger & Brew
2955 Newmarket Pl.
Bellingham, WA
Into Action Group
Saturdays at 7:30pm
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
2600 Lakeway Dr.
Bellingham, WA
There are also online Alcoholics Anonymous groups. These are often used to supplement in-person meetings and provide accountability and solidarity between these other meeting times. If this sounds useful to you, check out the following:
The Miracles in Progress Group
This site provides resources for recovering alcoholics, several weekly scheduled meetings, and several different chat forums.
Alcoholics Anonymous Online Group
This site offers a chat forum, free daily reflections, and a monthly magazine covering AA-related topics.
AAOnline.net
This website offers frequent online meetings with recovering alcoholics all over the country.
This is an international service providing chat-based meetings as well as email service for those who need immediate support. They offer their online meetings in a variety of different languages.
Remember that Alcoholics Anonymous is most effective when you attend in-person meetings. Online meetings are a supplement, not a substitute. They are also an easy way to help others who are just beginning to go through recovery for their addiction.
Narcotics anonymous, or NA, is another 12-step program very similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. However, instead of being specific to alcoholism - or even narcotics addiction, as the name would suggest - NA welcomes recovering addicts of all substances.
Like AA, there are a variety of different meeting times and locations for NA in Bellingham. This makes it all the more likely that you can find the right Bellingham NA group for you.
These NA meetings in Bellingham include:
Broadway Youth Center
Sundays at 7pm
1415 Dupont St.
Bellingham, WA
St. Joseph’s Hospital South Campus
Sundays at 7pm
809 East Chestnut St.
Bellingham, WA
Oikos Fellowship Church
Mondays at 7pm
310 Gladstone St.
Bellingham, WA
Rose Street Meeting Hall
Mondays at 7:30am
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Faith Lutheran Church
Tuesdays at 7pm
2750 Mcleod Road
Bellingham, WA
Lummi Care
Tuesdays at 7pm
2530 Kwina Road, Building A
Bellingham, WA
YMCA
Wednesdays at 7:15pm
1256 North State St.
Bellingham, WA
Rose Street Meeting Hall
Wednesdays at 7pm
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Oikos Fellowship Hall
Thursdays at 7pm
310 Gladstone St.
Bellingham, WA
Orcas Island Community Church
Thursdays at 7pm
176 Madrona St.
Eastsound, WA
Health Education Center Saint Joseph
Fridays at 7:30pm
3333 Squalicum Parkway
Bellingham, WA
YMCA
Fridays at 7:15pm
1256 North State St.
Bellingham, WA
Saint Joseph’s Hospital South Campus
Saturdays at 7:30pm
809 East Chestnut St.
Bellingham, WA
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Saturdays at 9:30pm
1720 Harris Ave.
Bellingham, WA
There are also online NA groups that meet through online chat forums at different times throughout the week. If this is something that interests you, try the following:
Miracles in Progress NA Group
Offers scheduled meetings throughout the week, as well as chat options to talk to others going through what you’re experiencing.
This online forum is open only to recovering addicts, and they request that no outside observers take part. They have twice-daily scheduled meetings, but the chat room is always open. They also offer other useful resources.
This website offers a 24-hour chat support group, as well as other resources.
As with the online AA groups, it’s vital to remember that online groups do not replace in-person groups. They are simply an additional resource to be used in-between real meetings. Using only online groups will likely not be as successful, and increases the probability that you will relapse and fall back into addiction or alcoholism.
SMART Recovery is a nonprofit organization that is based on abstinence and empowering people to quit using drugs and alcohol. They offer weekly support group meetings to those with substance abuse problems can come together and help one another.
This program is very different from the more traditional 12-Step program that most people are used to. They utilize their 4-Point Program as a way to help people create the change they want to see within themselves.
There are many meetings that take place in the Bellingham area each week.
Sunday
Westminster Presbyterian Church
6:30 pm
1300 9th St.
Classroom 5
Anacortes, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Monday
Follman Agency
5:00 pm
910 S. Anacortes St.
Burlington, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Wednesday
Follman Agency
5:00 pm
910 S. Anacortes St.
Burlington, WA
Map
Thursday
Follman Agency
5:00 pm
910 S. Anacortes St.
Burlington, WA
Map
Watching those we love go through alcoholism and addiction isn’t fun and isn’t easy. If you love someone who is an addict, you probably spend a lot of time feeling hopeless and wishing you knew how to help.
You are not alone in loving an addict or alcoholic. It can be useful to meet with others who are going through the same thing.
It’s also easy to worry about the children and teenagers in our families who are watching their family member - often a parent or older sibling - struggle with addiction. The fear that children will follow a family member’s example can be overwhelming. However, children and teens are not too young to attend support meetings too. Ensuring that they understand addiction gives them a headstart in fighting it.
Those of all ages who live with or love an addict or alcoholic are welcome at these Al-Anon family meetings in Bellingham:
Creekside Serenity AFG
Mondays at 7pm
10 Barnview Ct.
Bellingham, WA
Evergreen AFG
Mondays at 10am
1326 N. Garden St.
Bellingham, WA
Sea of Serenity
Saturdays at 10:30am
2530 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Peaceful Waters AFG
Sundays at 5:30pm
100 E. Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Touchstone Men’s AFG
Sundays at 9am
405 E. Holly St.
Bellingham, WA
Care Deeply AFG
Thursdays at 5:30pm
2401 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Happy Hour AFG
Tuesdays at 5:30pm
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Wednesday Morning Study Group AFG
Wednesdays at 10:30am
1326 N. Garden St.
Bellingham, WA
Wednesday Morning Study Group AFG
Wednesdays at 12 noon
1326 N. Garden St.
Bellingham, WA
There are also Al-Anon support groups specifically for children and teens, called Alateen. These groups teach kids and teens affected by addiction and alcoholism to cope in healthy ways, understand what addiction really is, and break generational cycles of addiction.
In Bellingham, there are Alateen meetings weekly:
First Congregational Church
Thursdays at 5:30pm
2401 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Finding Quality Mental Health Resources in the Bellingham Area
There are so many helpful mental health resources that are available in Bellingham and the surrounding communities. Options include community and county programs, support groups and more.
- North Sound-211 is a free referral and informational helpline to connect people with the services they need. Dial 211 from any phone.
- The Behavioral Health Access Program offers mental health services for people who do not have health insurance and how are low-income. Call (360) 788-6594.
- Catholic Community Services can provide mental health evaluations and referrals for children. Please call (360) 676-2164.
- The Mental Health Central Access Line can be reached by calling 1-888-693-7200. They can offer referrals for mental health services.
- NAMI-Whatcom County offers access to even more mental health resources and they can also provide referrals in the Bellingham area.
- The support group, Stress Reduction Group – resuming with precautions meets regularly in Bellingham. Please call (360) 685-8093.
- NAMI-Whatcom offers a few different types of support groups. They include their Connection Recovery group and their Family Support Group.
- There are many AA and NA meetings being held in Bellingham every week.
- The New Beginnings Support Group meets weekly in Bellingham. Call (360) 671-5714.
- Whatcom Hospice offers a Grief Support Group for people who have recently lost loved ones.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides crisis intervention services over the phone 24/7. Please call 1-800-273-8255.
The Crisis Text Line is available to provide services through texting. Just text the word “HEAL” to 741741.
Teen Link is a suicide prevention hotline for teenagers. Their phone number is (866) 833-6546.
Outpatient Mental Health Treatment in WA State – About The Promise Program
The Promise Program offers help and support to people in need of outpatient mental health treatment in Washington State. Many of our clients are individuals who have recently completed an inpatient stay. They need further support as a way to help them transition into their normal lives at home.
We treat people with many mental health conditions at The Promise Program. They include:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic disorder
- OCD
- PTSD
- ADD/ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Self-harming behaviors
- Schizophrenia
- Personality disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Mood disorders
At Promise, we view every client as an individual with their own needs during treatment. During the 4-5 weeks they will spend with us, they may be participating in the following:
- Yoga/Thai Chi classes
- Mental health education
- Experiential activities
- Art and music therapy
- Processing groups
- Skill building classes
- Goal building and evaluation support
- Trauma therapy
Our clients meet with our psychiatrist twice per week for medication management services. They work with their therapist during individual sessions and can also receive case management and crisis intervention services.
What to do in Case of Drug Overdose or Alcohol Poisoning in Bellingham
If you suspect that you or a loved one has overdosed on drugs or has alcohol poisoning, it’s best to get professional medical help as quickly as possible. In case of an emergency, always call 911.
Washington state has a Good Samaritan Law, so you cannot be prosecuted for drug use, possession of drugs, or underage drinking if you call 911 to seek emergency medical help for yourself or someone else experiencing an overdose. Never let fear of the law keep you from seeking professional help for a drug overdose or alcohol poisoning.
The death toll from the American opioid epidemic gets higher every day, and it’s best to be prepared for the worst if you or a loved one is regularly using heroine or other opioids.
An overdose of heroin will lower the user’s heart rate and breathing until the user is dead unless medical action is taken quickly.
Both Narcan and Evzio are drugs approved by the U.S. FDA for the immediate treatment of heroin overdoses until emergency medical help can arrive.
If you or someone you know regularly uses heroin, it’s a good idea to make sure that a reliable friend or family member regularly carries one of these treatment options and knows how to administer it correctly. It’s a good idea to review regularly the proper usage of these treatments so that the person administering it doesn’t panic under pressure.
Even if someone administers Narcan or Evzio, they should also call emergency medical personnel. These immediate treatments are not meant to be the only response in case of an overdose.
Cocaine overdoses can also kill a user very rapidly, so it’s important to think and act fast if you think you or a loved one has overdosed. First, call 911 immediately.
Once you have called 911, there are three things you can do while waiting for help to arrive:
- Apply a cold compress to the person who has overdosed. This will help keep their body temperature down at a safe level.
- If the person is experiencing seizures, try to move sharp objects or furniture away from them so they do not injure themselves. Lower them to the floor and keep their head far from hard objects. Do not try to restrain the addict if they are having a seizure, and if possible, ensure they have nothing in their mouth.
- Stay with the person until help arrives, and follow the instructions of the emergency line operator. Remain calm.
Prescription drugs are different, so overdoses will look different depending on the drug. In an emergency, you should always dial 911 and seek medical help.
You can also call your local poison control center for more information on what to do during a prescription drug overdose in Bothell.
Washington Poison Center
Emergency Number: 800-222-1222
Learning More About Addiction and Alcoholism in Bellingham, Washington
Are you interested in learning more about addiction and alcoholism? It can be both interesting and helpful to educate yourself about the facts and reality of these conditions.
It can also be enlightening to learn more about mental illness and how these disorders can contribute to addiction and alcoholism.
Other than the internet, where there is a vast array of resources if you’re willing to sort through them, you can learn more about addiction right from Bellingham.
Whatcom Community College, in Bellingham, offers several psychology courses for those trying to learn more.
Bellingham Area Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Resources: Get Help Now
At Northpoint Washington, we realize how challenging substance abuse and mental health issues can be. That is why we want to encourage people to get the type of help that works best for them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing that works, but together, we can find what works for you.
Our Closest Inpatient Location:
Our Closest Outpatient Location:
Would you like to know more about the addiction recovery or mental health resources in Bellingham? Do you have questions about The Promise Program or going to drug and alcohol rehab? Please contact us today.
This website and all content (graphics, text and other materials) are for informational purposes only. This information does not take the place of medical advice from a doctor and should not be substituted for medical advice, a diagnosis or treatment. Always seek out the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or put off seeking because of something you have read on this website. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately. This website does not recommend any tests, physicians, products or procedures. Relying upon any information found on this website is done at your own risk.
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