Substance Use Disorder: A Clinical Guide to Care and Recovery
- Samantha Leonie
Substance use disorder is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Substance use disorder was formerly known as drug addiction and was widely considered an addictive habit rather than a mental health condition. With the advancements in medical science, today we understand that SUD is a mental illness that needs medical attention and help.
According to NIH, substance abuse not only causes a financial burden of $420 billion annually to the US, but it also deteriorates the quality of our health, educational, and social systems, and they are debilitating and killing.
Substance use disorder is treatable, and you can get help once you understand that this is destroying your mental and physical health. Substance abuse also impacts users’ emotional well-being, career, relationships, and daily life. It takes a person down a self-destructive path. If you or your loved one is suffering from substance use disorder symptoms, consult a mental healthcare facility to help them overcome this disorder.
Table of Contents
SUD Symptoms in Clinical Practice
Substance use disorder symptoms can vary according to the type and amount of illicit drug used. According to the Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, the SUD symptoms are due to high dopamine and glutamate transmission in the corticolimbic regions of the brain. The most common and significant substance use disorder symptoms are outlined below.
- Consuming prescription drugs in large amounts for a long period of time.
- Uncontrolled desire for substance use.
- Persistent failure to stop substance abuse.
- Strong cravings for substance use.
- Experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, diarrhea, and anxiety when not using the drug.
- The short-term symptoms, when the substance is in the body, include feeling good, energetic, and excited, a lack of decision-making, and judgment.
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities in school, work, and family.
- Using substances to an extent where it is dangerous for physical health.
- Increased tolerance, leading to higher dosages.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Types of Substance Abuse Disorder and Behavioral Dependency Patterns
Substance abuse disorder can be classified into various types according to the substance used. The following are some of the most common types of substance abuse disorders.
- Consuming prescription drugs in large amounts for a long period of time.
- Uncontrolled desire for substance use.
- Persistent failure to stop substance abuse.
- Strong cravings for substance use.
- Experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, diarrhea, and anxiety when not using the drug.
- The short-term symptoms, when the substance is in the body, include feeling good, energetic, and excited, a lack of decision-making, and judgment.
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities in school, work, and family.
- Using substances to an extent where it is dangerous for physical health.
- Increased tolerance, leading to higher dosages.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders are a diagnostic term used when an individual is suffering from SUD and one or more mental health disorders at the same time. According to a 2018 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 9.2 million people in the US are struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders can complicate the recovery path and outcomes. It might become even more difficult to stop using substances in the presence of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues.
The most common co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders include depression, bipolar disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia, and OCD.
Interestingly, it is commonly observed that people grappling with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are only diagnosed for one of the conditions. The other condition might go unnoticed, increasing the chances of relapse and treatment failure.
The best treatment for co-occurring disorders is a multidimensional treatment plan. At Rise Well Behavioral, our addiction treatment program includes a thorough assessment that leads to an accurate diagnosis and a well-crafted substance use disorder treatment plan to reduce the risk of treatment relapse. We offer both addiction and mental health treatment programs under one roof that play a pivotal role in diagnosing and treating co-occurring disorders.
Substance Use Disorder Risk Factors and Vulnerability Indicators
Various risk factors increase the chances of a substance abuse disorder. The vulnerability indicators are not highly accurate, but they indicate increased chances of a person’s substance use disorder.
- Genetics and family history can greatly increase the chances of developing substance use disorder.
- Use of substances by teens or adolescents, when the brain is still developing.
- Neurobiology also plays a key role in substance use disorder. Different brains are wired differently to respond to the reward system.
- Co-occurring disorders
- Low-impulse control, adventure seeking, and curiosity to experiment with substance use increase the likelihood of developing a SUD.
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and neglect during childhood.
- Households where parents or guardians are suffering from substance use disorder or dysfunctional households.
- Chronic stress due to poverty, abuse, and discrimination.
- Peers with easily accessible drugs and substances.
SUD Therapy and Psychosocial Intervention Approaches
Psychosocial interventions such as SUD therapy have been found effective. A study shows that a psychosocial approach in conjunction with medication can be used effectively as SUD therapy for many substances.
Research reveals that evidence-based psychosocial substance use disorder treatment can bring about behavior change in substance abusers. The psychosocial SUD therapy includes the following.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is often accepted as the most effective treatment for substance use disorder. As part of SUD therapy, CBT is designed on the principle of identifying and modifying irrational thoughts, managing negative mood, and intervening after a lapse to prevent a full-blown relapse.
The core strategies employed are coping with cravings for substances, cue exposure, promotion of non-drug-related activities, CM, relaxation training, preparing for emergencies, and coping with relapses. Other elements of CBT include social skills training (effective communication, refusal skills) and problem-solving skills.
Brief Interventional Services (BIs)
A SUD therapist may also utilize Brief intervention services intended to help with mild alcohol use and not for the treatment of substance use disorder. The emphasis of the SUD therapist is to make the patient understand that substance use is harmful to them and encourage them to give up substance use. BIs can range from 5 min of brief advice to 15-30 min of brief counseling.
Motivational Interviewing
In motivational interviewing, a SUD therapist helps patients explore and resolve their ambivalence about their substance use and begin to make positive behavioral and psychological changes. The principles of MI include expressing empathy through reflective listening, developing discrepancy between patients’ goals or values and their current behaviors, avoiding argument and confrontation, adjusting to client resistance, and supporting self-efficacy and optimism.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention or RP is an evidence-based therapy for substance abuse recovery, which can help people with addiction develop skills to identify situations or states where they are most vulnerable to drug use, to avoid high-risk situations, and to use cognitive and behavioral strategies to cope effectively with these situations. The effectiveness of relapse prevention can be increased by using medications along with it.
Contingency Management
Contingency management, or CM, is an evidence-based substance abuse recovery therapy that is based on monetary incentives and reward programs, where positive behavioral change is associated with reward, and in contrast negative behavior is associated with punitive measures. Although substance use disorder treatment is effective, it is not widely used in clinics due to cost-effectiveness.
12 Step Approach
It can be used as adjunct therapy along with a structured addiction treatment program. It is based on community members sharing the same addiction problem, coming together and recognizing the harm addiction has caused, and providing support and care to each other to prevent relapse.
Role of SUD Therapist in Clinical Treatment and Recovery Support
SUD therapists can play a crucial role in substance abuse recovery. They act as a gap filler between medical intervention and long-term recovery. A SUD therapist designs an integrated mental health treatment program for co-occurring disorders. They are key care providers in therapies including CBT, MI, and relapse prevention.
Rise Well Behavioral has experienced and qualified SUD therapists who help patients with not only ongoing treatment but also with long-term recovery support.
Substance Abuse Recovery Programs and Relapse prevention strategies
Substance abuse recovery programs include intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs. These programs are designed carefully after assessments and identifying underlying risk factors for long-term recovery.
Relapse is an inevitable part of substance abuse recovery. Therefore, relapse prevention strategies are an integral part of a well-structured addiction treatment program. relapse prevention strategies include skill development, medications, and monitoring.
When to Seek Professional Help for Substance Use Disorder
If you or your loved ones are using a substance regularly and you feel addicted to it, it might be time to seek professional medical help. If you’re craving a substance and it is hindering your work, education, and family life, it’s high time that you get assessed by a licensed medical practitioner to avoid the severity of SUD and its long-term repercussions.
Substance use disorder related FAQ's
Yes, the user might not notice subtle signs of substance use disorder over time. It is important to get an evaluation from a certified practitioner.
Long-term substance use can alter how the brain functions. It impacts the brain’s ability to interpret, self-awareness, and judgment. This can hinder insight into their condition.
Substance use disorder can affect judgment and decision-making abilities because of damage to the reward and executive control system of the brain.
SUD can greatly impact family relationships. Over time, it damages the brain and its controls. This is the reason a substance abuser finds it difficult to communicate and carry on family relationships.
There are various environmental factors that increase vulnerability to substance abuse, including physical, emotional, and mental abuse, peer influence, and social interactions, especially during adolescence, poverty, and socioeconomic stress.
Conclusion
Substance use disorder is not just a habit; it is a mental health condition that affects your mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Consult Rise Well Behavioral today to get evaluated by a board-certified team of medical professionals, who will identify your risk factors and design a custom treatment plan according to your goals and requirements.
Take the first step towards long-term recovery and a life free from addiction.
