Not everyone who uses substances is addicted, but many people begin showing signs long before addiction fully develops. That’s where early intervention comes in. If you can reach people before they have real problems, they may be able to avoid more intense treatment.
The early intervention program at The Carter Treatment Center is designed for people who are at risk, showing warning signs, or beginning to struggle, but who don’t yet meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
This level of care helps you understand your relationship with substances, build healthier coping skills, and prevent the need for higher levels of treatment later. It’s support before crisis. Help before addiction. A chance to turn things around early instead of waiting until life falls apart.
Don’t wait for the hurt to grow. The earlier you reach out, the sooner you heal.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) created a national framework called the ASAM Levels of Care. These levels help determine how much support a person needs based on their symptoms, safety risks, mental health needs, and history with substances.
The levels range from:
Lower levels mean lower intensity. Higher levels mean more structure and support.
ASAM Level 0.5 is the earliest level of care. It’s not meant for people who are fully addicted. It’s designed for those who may be experimenting, feeling out of control, or using substances to cope with stress, trauma, anxiety, or life pressure; people who still have time to change direction.
Put simply: Level 0.5 is for people who need help now, so they don’t need a higher level of care later.
You may be a good fit for early intervention if:
You do not need to hit rock bottom to qualify for help. In fact, the whole purpose of early intervention is to avoid rock bottom altogether.
This level of care focuses on education, counseling, prevention planning, and support, not intensive treatment or crisis management.
You can expect:
For some people, Early intervention is a short-term program. For others, it’s a stepping stone into outpatient care if deeper issues are identified.
People often believe treatment is only for someone who has “lost everything.” But research shows that early support prevents addiction from developing and reduces long-term harm.
Early intervention can:
Many people enter treatment years later than they actually needed help. Level 0.5 exists, so you don’t have to wait that long. You don’t have to be “sure” you have a problem to participate. You only need to be willing to look at it honestly with support and not shame.
Choosing a level of care doesn’t have to be confusing. During your confidential assessment, one of our clinical team members will talk with you about:
From there, we’ll recommend the level of care that feels most appropriate. You’ll also be able to move up or down levels based on your progress. Recovery isn’t a straight line, and we’re here to help you adjust your treatment as life changes.
Early intervention only works when it is built on trust, understanding, and real support, not fear, shame, or pressure. At The Carter Treatment Center, we meet people at the earliest stages of concern, even if they are not sure how serious their substance use is yet.
Our goal is simple: to help you get ahead of the problem before it grows, while giving you space to explore your choices without judgment.
Here is what makes our early intervention program different:
Early intervention is not about labeling you as addicted. It is about giving you tools, clarity, and support before things spiral. Whether your concerns feel small or serious, you deserve a place to talk openly and learn what is really going on beneath the surface.
You do not have to wait until your life becomes unmanageable. You can get support that keeps you safe, steady, and strong now, and we are here to walk beside you as you do.
Early intervention, as the name implies, works best when the patient is first starting to show signs of behavioral health issues; this often means adolescents and young adults. Behavioral health issues could be related to mental health (MH), substance use (SU), or both (SU/MH). Early intervention programs at facilities may address only mental health, substance use, or they may address both as co-occurring disorders.
According to the 2023 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS):
The numbers point to one reality: communities everywhere, including Georgia, need greater access to behavioral health services for all ages.
Whether you’re in Alpharetta, Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Gainesville, Cumming, or anywhere in the metro Atlanta area, help is never far away.
We have two locations serving metro Atlanta, so we are accessible no matter where you live in the metro area:
The early intervention program helps people who may be showing early signs of substance use or emotional struggles but aren’t yet in crisis. It focuses on education, coping skills, and support to prevent problems from getting worse.
This program is ideal for individuals who are starting to engage in risky behaviors, experiencing increased stress, or noticing early warning signs of substance use. It’s also helpful for family members who want their loved one to get support before addiction progresses.
Early intervention often includes individual counseling, group discussions, education about substance use, and skills training for managing emotions and stress. Clients learn how to make healthy choices and build protective habits before stronger treatment becomes necessary.
Early intervention is less intensive than traditional outpatient care. It focuses on prevention and early support rather than treating an established addiction. It’s designed to keep clients from needing higher levels of care like IOP or PHP in the future.
The Carter Treatment Center offers early intervention services at both Alpharetta and Jefferson, Georgia locations. Clients across metro Atlanta can access early support close to home, making it easier to address concerns before they grow.
You don’t have to be in crisis to deserve help. You only have to be willing to look at your life and say, “I want better than this.”
Early intervention is designed for that moment—the moment when you feel something shifting, when you sense you’re heading down a path that doesn’t match the life you want. Getting support now can prevent small concerns from growing into something heavier or harder to manage.
If, at any point, you need more than early support, you won’t have to start over. The Carter Treatment Center offers a full continuum of care, including our partial hospitalization program for people who need daily structure, our intensive outpatient program for those who need steady guidance while staying engaged with work or family, and our flexible outpatient program for ongoing counseling and accountability.
You can move between these levels as your needs change, always with a team that understands your history and your goals.
We’re here when you’re ready. Call (470) 616-7274 or reach out online to get started.
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