Substance Use Disorder and Mental Illness

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder?

Substance use disorders may not be especially apparent or easy to recognize, especially after using certain substances for a long time. However, here are some indications that you should seek professional assistance:

Physical Exams

In-depth physical exams conducted by a medical professional trained in diagnosing substance use disorders are necessary for accurately diagnosing and treating substance use disorders. Physical exams alert providers not only to the possibility of a substance abuse disorder, but also to the potential severity, the substances used, and the overall health of the patient. 

In-Patient Therapy

The earliest portion of substance use recovery is one of the most tenuous times, which is why the support of 24/7 care provided in residential treatment facilities is most often recommended. Immediately after substance use is stopped, patients may experience physical withdrawal symptoms which necessitate medical supervision. In the following weeks, newly sober individuals may experience intense cravings and severe emotional instability as the body’s chemistry undergoes a number of changes.

Out-Patient Therapy

Out-patient therapy is useful either as a follow-up to in-patient therapy, as patients transition back into the demands of everyday life, or as an alternative to in-patient therapy. One of the benefits of out-patient therapy is that it allows clients to continue performing their normal tasks, like work and childcare, while still getting the benefits of regularly visiting the treatment facility.

Opiate Use Disorder

America’s FDA has approved naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine to treat opiate use disorder.4 These drugs can work to prevent substance use relapse by blocking the intoxifying effects of certain drugs, and to help prevent or reverse overdoses.

Alcohol Use Disorder

Some FDA-approved medications used to treat alcohol use disorder include disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate. Similar to drugs used in treating opiate use disorder, these drugs may block the intoxifying effects of alcohol, or induce severe discomfort if alcohol is consumed.

Tobacco Use Disorder

There has been a great deal of research into drugs to assist people in ceasing tobacco use, Including drugs like bupropion, varenicline, and nicotine patches. The majority of drugs used in tobacco use treatment are designed to curb the effects of cravings.

Effects of Substance Addiction

Substance addiction can be nearly impossible to treat without professional help. Once you have developed a dependency, abruptly halting use can lead to severe and even potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, life-threatening. Hallucinations, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, agitation and suicidal thoughts can all occur as a result substance use withdrawal.

Substance use disorder may escalate to a point that a person would do things they otherwise wouldn’t simply to sustain their addiction. A person may start behaving strangely, and cause friends, family, and employers to become concerned over their behavior.

Biology

Your genetic composition, mental stability, ethnicity, and even gender may make you more vulnerable to developing an addiction. In the U.S., men are more likely than women to suffer from substance use disorders. Moreover, marginalized minority groups in society are also at high risk for addiction.

Environmental Factors

Your neighborhood can affect your likelihood to develop a substance use disorder. Early exposure to drug use, alcohol abuse, childhood trauma, peer pressure, and stress can increase your likelihood of suffering a substance addiction.

Age

Adolescents are at the highest risk for substance use disorder as a result of beginning substance use. The region of the brain that governs self-control, judgment, and decision-making has not yet fully formed at this phase of development. Combined with reduced life experience, increased peer pressure, and normal hormonal imbalances,  adolescents are at an especially high risk of substance use disorders. 

Reducing Risk of Substance Use Disorder

To minimize risk of developing a substance use disorder:

Detox services for substance abuse and addiction

Detoxification is the delicate process of removing addictive chemicals from the body, while minimizing damage to the body in the process. Detox often requires the supervision of addiction experts and medical professionals in order to be conducted safely with minimal discomfort.

Inpatient (Residential) rehab

Patients in an inpatient treatment program spend their day and night at the treatment facility with around-the-clock care and supervision. Care is structured to provide patients with consistent assistance in managing their condition while undergoing substance abuse treatment.

Outpatient Rehabilitative Services

Those whose needs don’t include detoxification or as intensive care as a residential setting, may receive outpatient treatment instead. Outpatient treatment trades constant support and care in exchange for a less disrupted daily routine, and allows for more flexible scheduling of therapy and medical appointments.

Some of the therapies used in treatment include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy (GT), family therapy (FT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), contingency management (CM), and 12-step programs.

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