Substance Use Disorder
If you’re experiencing a substance use disorder, you can find the care you need right here in our community. Reid Health offers services to diagnose and treat the condition.
Specialized care for substance use disorder
Substance use disorder is a mental health condition that causes uncontrolled use of a substance despite negative effects and consequences. The condition is characterized by an intense need — sometimes called an addiction — to use a substance such as alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.
A pattern of substance use can negatively affect many aspects of life, making it more difficult to complete normal tasks and responsibilities at school or work. Substance use disorder can also increase the risk of developing certain long-term health issues and cause problems with relationships.
Substance use disorder care at Reid Health
The good news is help is available. Substance use disorder is a treatable condition, and you can find a diagnosis and treatment right here in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio.
We offer specialized services to diagnose, treat, and manage all types of substance use disorders. We’re here to help you overcome the challenges of alcohol or drug use and get back to living your best life.
What is substance use disorder?
Substance use disorder affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to an inability to abstain from certain substances, including drugs or alcohol.
Many different factors can cause substance use disorder. This includes peer pressure, sexual or physical abuse, early exposure to addictive substances, and stress.
In some cases, those who have other mental health conditions, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, also develop a substance use disorder. This is known as having substance use disorder and “co-occurring mental disorders.”
Types of substance use disorder
You can become addicted to a variety of substances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders categorizes substance misuse disorder into 10 classes:
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Hypnotics and anxiolytics (anxiety medication)
- Inhalants
- Opioids
- Sedatives
- Stimulants
- Tobacco
- Other (or unknown) substances
Some people use these substances occasionally without becoming addicted to them, but the substances become addictive when you can’t control the urge to use them. That level of substance use disrupts normal life.
Symptoms of substance use disorder
When does substance use become a problem? Knowing the symptoms can help you identify when experimental, occasional, or regular use of a substance becomes an addiction.
Symptoms of a substance use disorder might include:
- Absences from work or school
- Appetite changes or neglecting to eat altogether
- Confusion
- Disregard of physical appearance or a lapse in personal hygiene
- Hostility when confronted about substance use
- Increasing need for substance use
- Increasing tolerance for a substance or experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Lack of control over substance use
- Secretive behavior to hide substance use
- Use of substances despite harm to health, work, school, or relationships
- Violence
- Withdrawal from family and friends
Substance use disorder risk factors
People of all ages, races, sexes, and backgrounds can develop a substance use disorder. Certain factors, though, can put you at a high risk of developing a disorder.
Risk factors for developing a substance use disorder include:
- Being exposed to peers who are misusing alcohol or drugs
- Being inadequately supervised as a child or teen
- Experiencing child abuse or mistreatment
- Having a mental health condition or another chronic health condition
- Having family members who use drugs or alcohol or who have a mental health condition
- Having positive attitudes toward alcohol or drug use and low perception of risk
- Living in an environment where it’s easy to access drugs and alcohol
- Using substances that include alcohol at a young age
Diagnosing substance use disorder
It might seem like it’s fairly easy to determine whether a person is misusing drugs or alcohol. That’s not actually always the case. Although blood, urine, and other lab tests can confirm someone is using drugs, they don’t indicate whether a person is misusing drugs.
If you believe your substance use rises to the level of addiction, meeting with a behavioral health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, is the first step toward recovery. Your provider will conduct a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and how substance use affects your thinking and behavior.
To be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, you need to exhibit symptoms in at least two of four categories, including an inability to control substance use, a decreasing ability to meet social obligations, a willingness to use the substance in risky environments and dangerous situations, and physical signs of drug or alcohol use or dependence.
Substance use disorder treatments at Reid
If a mental health professional diagnoses you with a substance use disorder, the provider will work with you to create a treatment plan that’s personalized for your needs. Treatment varies depending on the type of substance being used and the severity of the addiction.
If you’re experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms, your provider might recommend you begin treatment in our inpatient care unit. Once your condition is stabilized, you can continue your recovery on an outpatient basis.
Your treatment plan might include:
- Medication: Prescription medications might be recommended to help those with certain types of substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder, to curb cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Medications might also be prescribed to help prevent relapse. These medications don’t cure substance use disorder, but they can help you overcome the disorder and recover.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is used to help those with substance use disorder understand their condition, what triggers their substance use, and ways to overcome it. We offer a form of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where you meet with a psychologist or a psychiatrist. You might also participate in counseling with a licensed alcohol and drug counselor on an individual basis or as a family or group.
- Motivational interviewing: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based counseling practice that helps patients explore and resolve thoughts and feelings about substance use. Rather than telling a patient what to do, MI empowers them to identify their own motivation and build confidence to make positive changes in their recovery journey.