Recent data shows that 1 in 10 Americans report having resolved a significant substance use problem with drugs or alcohol. 22.25 million Americans have recovered using pathways like formal treatment and recovery support services.
If you aren’t sure how to achieve recovery from substance abuse, you aren’t alone. The best thing to do is learn more about substance use disorders, the recovery process, and the resources available to you.
Read on to learn what you need to know about substance use disorder recovery and how to find treatment.
Overview of Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
First, it’s essential to learn more about substance use disorders and how they impact you.
SUD also referred to as addiction, is a mental health disorder that impacts a person’s brain, overall mood, and behavior. This leads to an inability to control the use of substances like medications, illegal drugs, or alcohol. This use continues despite the personal, financial, and health consequences.
SUD can range from mild to severe. Mild SUD is more like substance misuse with occasional episodes of substance use.
It’s important to realize SUD just isn’t about addiction. People who have SUD often have mental health disorders at the same time. This is known as co-occurring mental disorders and includes:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorder
- PTSD
Even though it’s common to have both a mental disorder and SUD at the same time, it doesn’t mean one caused the other. Many people do however use substances to mask the symptoms of a mental health disorder.
For these reasons, substance use treatment programs also treat underlying mental health conditions.
Common Substances
Understanding more about common substances and withdrawal symptoms is the next step toward achieving recovery,
You can look at substances as any drug that has the potential for addiction. Substances can be anything from non-medical drugs to prescription drugs. This includes:
- Cannabis
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Hallucinogens like PCP
- Prescription opioids like oxycodone
- Non-prescription opioids like heroin
- Sedatives like anti-anxiety drugs
- Sleeping pills
- Prescription stimulants like Adderall
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
While all these substances have differences, they all impact the reward center of the brain. This reward center is all about the neurotransmitters in your brain that release dopamine.
Dopamine is known as the “pleasure chemical” and substance use impacts the amount of this chemical normally in your brain.
Dependence and Withdrawal Symptoms
People who use substances will get a rush of dopamine that causes feelings of pleasure and increased energy. People continue to chase this initial rush by taking more substances to achieve a high.
This leads to physical and psychological dependence since it changes the dopamine levels in your brain. Therefore, you end up needing the substance to feel normal. If you try to stop abruptly you can start experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms like:
- Chills
- Sweating
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Depressed mood
- Trouble sleeping
- Hallucinations
- Rapid heart rate
It’s best to get assistance when going through withdrawal since it can be severe if you’ve been using substances long-term.
Substance Use Treatment Programs
Since substance use disorder is considered a chronic disease and a valid health issue, you need to take time and care with your recovery.
Various treatment programs will help you get through withdrawal symptoms safely and get on the road to recovery. These programs include:
Withdrawal Management
Detoxing is the first major step on the road to recovery. Since withdrawal symptoms can become severe, you need to have medical assistance during this process.
Withdrawal management programs begin with an overall assessment of your physical and mental symptoms. From there, a doctor begins a custom treatment plan to help manage the symptoms you’re experiencing.
You’ll get 24/7 medical support along with other services like:
- Medication to control withdrawal symptoms
- Behavioral counseling
- Introduction to recovery support groups
- Discharge planning
After detox, you’ll move on to a treatment program that meets your needs. Common treatment program options include:
Intensive Inpatient Treatment
Intensive short-term inpatient treatment programs offer the continuous support many people need to begin the recovery process. During treatment, you’ll stay at the facility which allows you to focus on your recovery.
During this treatment program, you’ll receive services like:
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- 12-step meetings
- Life-skills training
- Family member support
Individual behavioral counseling is an essential part of addiction treatment. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are very effective in treating SUD and mental health disorders.
CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps you understand how your behaviors, feelings, and thoughts work together. CBT shows unhealthy thought patterns that negatively impact your behavior.
These types of thought patterns without healthy coping skills can lead to addictive behaviors. Learning how to address these thought patterns helps make long-lasting changes.
“You have a team of people who want to help you and other clients who encourage you to stay and get better. Even if you get mad and want to leave, they support you.” – Alvin
“Even though it wasn’t my decision to go to rehab, it was my decision to stay and actually work the program. By the end of my treatment, I was given a full belt filled with the tools I need to stay active and healthy in my recovery…” – Rebecca
“It’s a remarkable feeling when you start to find who you really are again and love yourself.” – Aldo
The path to recovery looks different for everyone but it is definitely possible. We’ve seen so many stories like these where people’s lives are changed for the better and they can begin to love themselves again.
Get Help With Recovery From Substance Abuse
Recovery from substance abuse is completely possible and you can start your journey today by getting the help you need.
We are here to help you with all your treatment and recovery needs. We’ve been providing quality and affordable treatment in Texas since 1967, and commit to providing a solid foundation for recovery.
We create custom treatment paths toward recovery and also offer mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders. Our treatment programs for adults and youth include withdrawal management, intensive inpatient treatment, and outpatient services. We also have recovery support services like recovery housing and individual counseling.
Our affordable treatment options mean we take government funding, private insurance, and sliding-scale payments.
Learn more about our treatment programs and get started on your journey to recovery.
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