Substance abuse disorders affect people from all walks of life. In fact, 167.2 million people used substances in a single month in 2023.

SUD is a common mental health issue that’s recurrent and often serious. The drugs can change a person’s mood, thinking, behavior, finances, relationships and several other aspects of life. However, the good news is that substance use disorders are treatable, and research has shown that many people recover.

What Is a Substance Use Disorder?

Substance use disorder is the continuous and uncontrollable use of drugs (alcohol included) despite experiencing substantial harm or adverse outcomes from their use. Common substances involved include:

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, an SUD occurs when an individual experiences substance use alongside two or more symptoms in a 12-month period. These symptoms include:

• Strong cravings
• Increased tolerance
• Interference with work or personal responsibilities
• A perceived inability to stop using the drug

An SUD can develop whether the substance an individual uses is legal, recreational, socially acceptable or approved for medical use. The consumption of these substances results in the activation of the brain’s reward system and produces feeling of pleasure.

Depending on the substance, the activation may strongly drive users to crave the substance and neglect normal activities to obtain and use the drugs.

Substance Use Disorder Symptoms

Signs of a substance use disorder include:

• Spending large amounts of money on the substance
• Feeling like you can’t live without the drug
• Suffering from withdrawal symptoms whenever you stop using
• Neglecting work, school and personal responsibilities
• Taking increasingly large amounts of the drug

What Causes a Substance Use Disorder?

SUDs and mental health are closely interlinked. In fact, 35% of individuals with some form of mental illness also have an SUD. In other words, people with SUD, especially adolescents and young adults, usually have high rates of co-occurring mental illness. This explains why most treatment programs for SUDs also feature mental health diagnoses and treatment interventions.

SUD is mainly associated with anxiety disorders. These disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Other mental health problems linked with alcohol or substance use disorders include:

• Depression
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Psychotic illness
• Antisocial personality disorder

Trauma could also increase an individual’s likelihood of developing an SUD. If they don’t seek therapy, they may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with flashbacks, insomnia, nightmares, panic attacks and other issues. During therapy, a psychologist might ask the patient about their past to uncover any buried memories.

Effects of Substance Use Disorders

The effects of SUD can vary depending on the substances used, family health history and several other risk factors. However, the effects of using substances can be severe and long-term. Alcohol and drugs affect the brain, thereby influencing behavioral, emotional, cognitive, physical and social well-being. People with serious SUDs exhibit:

• Paranoia
• Aggressiveness
• Addiction
• Impulsiveness
• Loss of self-control
• Impaired judgment

The side effects of SUDs include:

Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment

SUD is a widespread and complicated medical condition with numerous adverse implications. The good news is that it’s treatable, and many people have stories worth listening to about their recovery from various substance disorders.

However, SUD requires a specialized treatment approach since it often involves underlying mental health issues. This is something many health care providers don’t consider. Also, since the effects of substance use and addiction are often associated with physical ailments, it’s easy to overlook patients’ severe mental health issues.

At Restore Mental Health, we take your road to recovery seriously. We’re guided by the philosophy that healing is possible. As such, our staff is well-trained and experienced in treating a wide array of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

How Do You Treat a Substance Use Disorder?

We begin by gaining a deeper understanding of your disorder and situation. This involves thorough evaluation and assessments — a dual diagnosis by an alcohol and drug counselor and psychiatrist. Once diagnosed, we recommend an appropriate substance use disorder treatment program depending on your preferences and health condition.

If you’re like many residents, you may start with inpatient care. For the next 21 to 90 days, you’ll live full-time on campus and spend your days exercising, meditating, eating healthy meals, taking spiritual workshops and engaging in individual and group therapy. We may prescribe medication that treats your mental illness and helps you focus on recovery.

If you’re a good candidate for neuro rehab, you’ll get access to cutting-edge treatments that could significantly improve your outcome. We offer electroencephalography brain mapping, heart rate variability and biosound monitoring, neurofeedback training and transcranial stimulation.

Once this program ends, you may transition to outpatient care. You’ll move back to your home and return to our clinic for several hours of therapy and wellness classes each day. Over time, you’ll switch to shorter visits until you’re ready to resume your life. This allows you to gradually return to work or school and take care of family obligations.

At the end of outpatient treatment, you’ll get access to aftercare programs, such as therapy and sober living houses, that help you avoid a relapse. We’ll help you find a community that cares about your well-being.

Why Restore Mental Health?

Restore Mental Health is a leading health care provider for mental health and substance use disorders. Our friendly staff, real-world environment and state-of-the-art facility will help you complete your recovery journey. If you or your loved one is struggling with SUD, contact Restore Mental Health today to start your recovery journey.