Maryland Counseling Centers
	Substance abuse counseling program

This program is provided by Maryland Counseling Centers, Inc. (MCC), a state-approved drug abuse counseling program providing care in Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties since 1984.

It features:

		Weekly seminars and treatment forums on psychotropic substances for a period of 26 weeks.
		Legal education on matters regarding controlled dangerous substances.
		Multiple randomized urine screening (results immediately available).
		Regular reporting to probation agencies and the courts.
		Comprehensive staff of physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, licensed social workers, and certified addiction counselors.
		Interface with existing alternative community service providers.

MCC provides a 26-week substance abuse treatment-oriented seminar that meets weekly to provide substance abuse counseling. The content of the seminars is as follows:

		History of drug use in America.
		Basic biochemistry and neurological function of psychotropic drugs.
		Use of psychotropic drugs in psychiatry.
		Toxicity of drugs, including psychotic reactions.
		Biochemical and neurological basis of addiction.
		Withdrawal.
		Increased usage to cope with withdrawal.
		Progression of dependency.
		Synergistic and antagonistic interactions of multiple drug usage.
		Psychodynamics of drug abuse and dependency.
		Conditioning theory in acquisition of dependency.
		Crime and cost of illicit drug abuse.
		Effects upon family of abuser.
		Treatment options, including hospitals, community-based programs, private clinics, and county supported programs.
		Use of self-help groups.

Interactive treatment Information is presented at each session in a lecture format. Following presentation of the material, a traditional group therapeutic mode is adopted in which group members support each other to facilitate acceptance and understanding of the material and to foster appropriate changes in drug-using behavior.

Legal education The program will provide law-based education in addition to the clinical information about drugs. This material will train the participants to understand the enforcement process within the criminal justice system and to create an awareness of the various sanctions that can be imposed for violation of the law. Participants are confronted with the concept of individual accountability for the events that brought them to the attention of the police and the court.

Urinalysis Randomized urine screenings are available with the costs borne by the client.

Court reporting MCC has a regular protocol for maintaining ongoing reporting to the Department of Parole and probation and country agencies for compliance with persons in substance abuse treatment. participants sign a waiver permitting MCC to report positive urine reports to the appropriate probation agency.

Staff The staff at MCC consists of all licensed health professionals. This enables the Center to respond to any needs that may arise in the course of counseling. The courts can be appropriately notified if hospitalization or any auxiliary treatment is needed, and needed referrals can be provided.

Hispanic program MCC also offers the foregoing program in Spanish. Thus the entire Hispanic community receives the same level of professional care as those of English-speaking backgrounds.

Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous Each participant will be required to attend a minimum of two independent sessions of Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alternative community service Satisfactory completion of alternative community service as required by county guidelines may be required in order to successfully complete program requirements.

Cost The cost of the program is met with a sliding fee schedule. Part of the cost may be met through major medical insurance coverage.