Over 20 million people in the United States have at least one substance use disorder (that’s more than the population of Chile). About 20% of Americans who have depression or an anxiety disorder also have a substance use disorder [1]. These numbers indicate a need for more advocacy and substance use prevention in our local communities.
In the United States, substance use is a public health problem. Spreading awareness about substance use, prevention strategies, and protective factors can leave a positive impact.
Understanding Substance Use
Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs (either prescribed medicine or illegal drugs) significantly impairs your health and daily life. Substance use disorders often affect your ability to regulate your moods, causing agitation, chronic guilt, and anger. Additionally, substance use disorders might cause damage to your relationships or failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. In severe cases, substance use disorders can lead to overdose [2].
Substance use disorders can manifest in many forms. The most commonly abused substances include alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, amphetamines, opioids, benzodiazepines, hallucinogens, and lesser-known but commonly found substances, such as kratom or cava [3].
Related: What is Drug Addiction — and How Can it be Treated?
What Causes Substance Use Disorders?
Substance use disorders can be caused by multiple risk factors, including environmental influences, other mental health disorders, or childhood trauma and genetics [4].
Environmental Factors
There’s an array of environmental factors that might cause substance use disorders. Peer pressure can often lead to experimentation with drugs and alcohol and increase the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. Additionally, people who are overburdened by school, work, or the caretaking of a loved one, can turn to substances for relief, which increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder [4].
Mental Health Disorders
Mental health disorders also play a role in the development of substance use disorders. People who suffer from depression, attentional deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders are at a greater risk of developing a substance use disorder [2].
Mental health and substance use disorders are often co-occurring, or occurring at the same time. People who suffer from mental health disorders might use substances as a coping mechanism. In turn, substance use can worsen the symptoms associated with mental health disorders, causing additional pressure to self-medicate. Addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders holistically is encouraged to promote an overall sense of well-being [2].
Peer Pressure and Childhood Trauma
While all age groups can be affected by substance use disorders, young adults and adolescents are particularly vulnerable as they are prone to peer pressure, experimentation, exposure, and increased stress from education, work, or relationships [4].
Studies show that the earlier you begin smoking, drinking, and/or using other drugs, the greater the likelihood of developing an addiction later in life. Nine out of ten people who use or are addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs began using these substances before age 18. Those who start using addictive substances before age 15 are nearly seven times more likely to develop a substance use problem as adults (compared to those who first used drugs at age 21 or older). Every year that youth substance use is delayed during adolescent brain development, the risk of addiction and substance use decreases [3].
Additionally, exposure to adverse early life experiences- including childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, or domestic violence–can negatively impact your brain development, increasing the risk of developing substance use disorder. Furthermore, children who witness a parent abusing substances are more likely to develop a substance use disorder later in life [4].
Importance of Substance Use Prevention
Substance use prevention can positively impact your physical health, emotional well-being, and brain development. Early intervention can help prevent addiction escalation, improve receptivity to treatment, remedy health risks, and support early development [5].
On a larger scale, promoting substance use prevention can strengthen communities, increase education about substance use, and reverse stigmas associated with substance use disorders [5].
While there is no one way to prevent the development of a substance use disorder, you can identify early signs of dependence and get help.
Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Substance Use
Early identification of warning signs can help in timely intervention and reduce risk factors. Warning signs of substance use can include changes in behavior (isolation or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities), a decline in performance at work or school, or a failure to tend to responsibilities at home [6].
Physical signs to look for are changes in appearance, such as poor hygiene or sudden weight loss and gain, bloodshot eyes, sleep disturbances, unusual body odors, or excessive nosebleeds. Other warning signs can include sudden financial changes or mood swings [6].
Additional signs of drug or alcohol dependence include:
- Regularly taking a substance not according to the prescription (taking more than the prescribed dose or taking the drug for recreational use).
- Taking the substance “just in case,” even when not in pain.
- Focusing daily activities on how to get the substance.
- Experiencing extreme mood swings from joy to anger.
- Borrowing medicine from others or “losing” medicine to get more prescriptions.
- Seeking the same prescription from multiple healthcare professionals to have a “backup” supply.
- Making poor decisions, including putting oneself or others in danger [6].
Evidence-Based Treatment Strategies
Common evidence-based approaches to treating substance use disorders include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), individual and group counseling, experiential therapy (art, music, and creative writing), motivational interviewing (MI), relapse prevention, and family-based approaches. These comprehensive approaches can help facilitate education and awareness around substance use, promote life skills and resilience, and encourage community involvement and support [7].
Community prevention programs include school-based programs, community outreach workshops or seminars, support groups like AA or Al-Anon, or workplace programs like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) [7]. If you or someone you know is struggling with substances, reach out to find a local prevention program and contact a mental health professional for help.
Additionally, most people who abuse substances can benefit from medical interventions, such as in-patient or out-patient treatment [7].
Clear Behavioral Health’s Approach to Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Clear Behavioral Health takes a multi-faceted approach to treating substance use disorders. Treatment options include Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Detox Programs, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Partial Hospitalization Programs, and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHP/IOP). All our programs provide individual and group therapy as well as medical and psychiatric services. Our multiple levels of treatment provide optimal, full-rounded support so that clients can transition from early recovery to long-term health and sobriety.
Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Detox Program
In the context of substance use disorder treatment, detox is an important process that allows individuals to rid their bodies of drugs or alcohol while managing the accompanying withdrawal symptoms. While withdrawal is a necessary step in the sobriety journey, the process can be life-threatening if not properly supervised by professionals [8]. Clear offers a medically supervised detox program that provides individualized treatment and around-the-clock care.
In a private, intimate residential setting, our attending physician–alongside a team of nurses, licensed clinicians, and certified counselors–closely monitor each patient to ensure comfort and safety during the detox process.
Our team is committed to compassionate and individualized care with understanding of the physical and emotional needs that arise during detox. Upon stabilization (which typically takes 5-7 days), you have the option to transition to our residential rehab program, which will help facilitate your next phase of healing.
Related: The Importance of Withdrawal Management in the Recovery Process
Inpatient Rehabilitation Treatment
Following detox, many individuals benefit from our inpatient rehabilitation program. Our rehab program for alcohol and drugs provides a controlled environment to address substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and other behaviors that may be causing you difficulty. Our residential program is designed to promote your health and wellness while providing you with the necessary safety, space, and time to fully commit to your sobriety journey.
In our residential rehab program, you’ll participate in individual and group therapy to gain insight into the underlying causes of addiction. Additionally, you’ll work with a counselor to establish necessary and practical life skills. Our residential program also provides medication management, 24-hour medical support, and highly individualized treatment plans featuring holistic healing therapies such as yoga and soundbaths.
Even after leaving our rehabilitation program, you will reap the benefits of our services as we offer a variety of outpatient programs to support your continued care.
Related: How To Get Someone Into Rehab
Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHP & IOP)
Our outpatient treatment programs offer flexibility, Allowing you to live at home while attending therapy sessions and treatment appointments during the day or evening.
At Clear, most clients start at the Partial Hospitalization level of care and participate in therapeutic programming 5 days a week for 6 hours a day. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) includes weekly individual and group therapy, counseling sessions, and medication management. After Partial Hospitalization, you’ll have the option to step down to our Intensive Outpatient Program and participate in the program 3 to 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.
Both our PHP and IOP treatments provide a supportive community of mentors, personalized assessments to meet your individual needs, relapse prevention education, and holistic healing approaches, such as mindfulness, sound healing, yoga, and meditation.
After discharge, you have the chance to participate in our continued care group where you will receive ongoing therapy, peer support, and medication management from our team.
Related: 5 Benefits of Outpatient Rehab
Addressing and Preventing SUD
Addressing and preventing substance use disorders on both an individual and community level is more important now than ever before. At Clear Behavioral Health, we’re here to help. If you or a loved one is exhibiting any of the warning signs of a substance use disorder, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us today to learn more about our substance use disorder services including drug and alcohol detox in Redondo Beach, CA, residential rehab in Gardena, CA, and outpatient addiction treatment programs throughout Los Angeles, CA. We look forward to supporting you at every step of your recovery journey.
Resources:
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD). (2024, September 30). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16652-drug-addiction-substance-use-disorder-sud
- Substance use disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001522.htm
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). (2016, June 1). Substance use disorders. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519702/
- Bourgeois, C. (2024, October 1). National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center. https://hiprc.org/blog/sa-prevention-2023/
- Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024, August 13). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/preventing-drug-misuse-addiction-best-strategy
- Drug addiction (substance use disorder) – Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112
- Griffin, K. W., & Botvin, G. J. (2010). Evidence-Based Interventions for Preventing Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 19(3), 505–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2010.03.005
- Gateway Foundation. (2024, September 25). What’s the Difference Between Detox and Withdrawal? https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/blog/difference-between-detox-withdrawal/
