Substance Abuse Disorder: Symptoms, Roots, and Solutions
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Options in the United States
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a widespread issue in the United States, affecting millions of individuals aged 12 and above. SUD can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, income level, or gender.
This article will explore the main types of treatment programs available for SUD in the U.S., as well as other support and treatment options.
Main Types of Treatment Programs
The treatment landscape for SUD is diverse, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient programs.
Inpatient (Residential) Treatment: Patients reside at a facility for a set duration, typically 30 days (short-term) or longer (long-term). This includes hospital inpatient, residential detoxification, short- and long-term residential treatment. Long-term residential treatment is the most frequently provided inpatient care.
Outpatient Treatment: Patients live at home and attend scheduled treatment sessions. This includes standard outpatient programs and intensive outpatient programs (IOP), which feature more frequent and structured sessions, often three times weekly for around 10 weeks.
Detoxification Programs: Medical detox helps manage withdrawal symptoms safely, often offered as residential or outpatient detox.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): FDA-approved medications are used to reduce cravings and ease withdrawal, primarily for opioid, heroin, and alcohol dependence. MAT is typically combined with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Behavioral Therapies and Counseling: These therapies focus on understanding underlying causes, developing coping skills, and supporting mental health co-conditions. Both individual and group therapies are offered.
Peer Support and Self-Help Groups: Support from peers who have faced similar challenges is considered crucial for long-term recovery. Programs often facilitate access to these resources along with treatment.
Specialized Programs
Specialized programmes can also be available, such as teen treatment programs, DWI/DUI education, and first-time support initiatives.
Insurance and Accessibility
Most programs accept private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and offer sliding scale fees for uninsured patients to increase access.
Other Substances of Concern
Gasoline, amyl nitrate ("poppers"), and other substances can also lead to SUD. Recognising the signs of drug use can be challenging, as some individuals with SUD engage in secretive behaviour to conceal their habits.
Signs of hallucinogenic use, for example, can include dilated pupils, nausea, increased heart rate, sleep problems, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, panic, mood changes, paranoia, confusion, hallucinations, detachment from reality, disordered thinking, and psychosis.
In the case of alcohol, it is the most commonly misused substance by individuals with SUD. Signs of inhalant use can include watery eyes, rash around the mouth and nose, irritability, drowsiness, and poor muscle control.
Diagnosis and Severity
Healthcare professionals diagnose SUDs using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). A person must meet at least two of the DSM-5-TR criteria over a 12-month period to be diagnosed with an SUD. The number of criteria a person meets determines the severity of the SUD.
Co-occurring Conditions
In many instances, SUD occurs alongside another mental health condition, which is called a dual diagnosis. Commonly co-occurring mental health conditions include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Help and Support
Help and support are available for people with SUD, including from primary care doctors, local hospitals, organisations such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and FindTreatment.gov.
Common signs of cannabis use include red eyes, feelings of euphoria, increased appetite, spontaneous laughter, and dry mouth. Signs of stimulant use can include dilated pupils, talkativeness, increased energy, hypersensitivity to sound, sight, and touch, weight loss, dry mouth, irritability, and sleep problems.
Signs of benzodiazepines and hypnotics use can include physical weakness, slurred speech, lack of motor coordination (ataxia), sleepiness, and small pupils. Common signs of MDMA use can include muscle tension, blurred vision, nausea, sweating, confusion, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Benzodiazepines and sedatives are drugs used to treat mental health disorders and physical conditions, and include Valium, Ativan, and Xanax. Signs of opioid use can include small pupils, drowsiness, weight loss, mood changes, irritability, and shaky hands.
If someone exhibits symptoms of an SUD, they should speak with their healthcare professional. Treatment for SUD may include hospital treatment for detoxification and management of withdrawal symptoms, medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, long-term medications to suppress cravings, behaviour counseling such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), addiction therapy, psychotherapy, and support groups.
- Apart from substances like opioids, alcohol, and cannabis, other substances such as gasoline, amyl nitrate ("poppers"), and benzodiazepines can also lead to Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
- Mental health co-conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), commonly occur alongside SUD, often referred to as a dual diagnosis.
- Health and wellness, extending beyond substance abuse, is important for overall health. Recognizing the signs of drug use can be challenging, as some individuals with SUD engage in secretive behavior to conceal their habits, making it essential to seek professional help for early detection and treatment.
