If you are affected by the closures of Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, learn how we can help.
Statement on Steward hospital closures
If you are affected by the closures of Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, learn how we can help.
Substance use disorder means that a person uses substances even though it causes harm to themself or others. Substances include alcohol, marijuana or other drugs, inhalants, prescription medicines, and over-the-counter medicines. Substance use disorder can range from mild to severe. The more symptoms of this disorder you have, the more severe it may be.
Symptoms of substance use disorder include:
Many factors can lead to substance use disorder. It's not due to weakness or a lack of willpower.
Certain things make it more likely that you will develop a substance use disorder. These are called risk factors.
These include:
Genes play an important role in personality. As a result, substance use disorder often runs in families. Genes may influence whether you use substances and whether your substance use becomes substance use disorder.
You're more likely to develop substance use disorder if you have a mental health condition, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or an anxiety disorder. Treating mental health conditions makes substance use less likely. And if you have substance use disorder, treating mental health conditions makes recovery more likely.
These include:
The earlier you start to use substances, the more likely you are to develop substance use disorder. This may be because early substance use changes the developing brain.
If you smoke a drug or inject it into a vein, you are more likely to develop substance use disorder. These methods give you a fast and intense high, but you lose the high quickly and then feel low. This may cause you to use the substance more often.
You're more likely to use substances if you live in an area where they're easy to get and substance use is common.
You are more likely to use substances if your family members or friends use them.
You may be more likely to use substances when you are having problems in your family or with friends.
If you have no activities that give you a sense of purpose, you may be more likely to use substances.
The more symptoms of substance use disorder you have, the more severe it may be. Symptoms include:
Substance use disorder may be diagnosed during a routine doctor visit. Or you may see your doctor for a health or other problem linked to substance use, such as anxiety, depression, or family conflict.
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and past health and do a physical exam. If your doctor thinks you have substance use disorder, your doctor may ask about current and past substance use and your family history of substance use.
Your doctor may ask you to have:
If you and your doctor agree that you have substance use disorder, your doctor probably will refer you to a specialist who treats substance use.
Many people who have substance use disorder also have a mental health condition, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. This is called a dual diagnosis. If this may be true for you, your doctor may do a mental health assessment.
If you have a dual diagnosis, you'll need treatment for both conditions. This gives you a better chance of a full recovery and less chance of using substances again.
The first step to treat substance use disorder is to seek help from your family doctor or treatment program in your area. Treatment usually includes group therapy, other types of counseling, and substance use education. You may need medicine to help you move toward staying substance-free. Attending a 12-step program, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), is often part of treatment and continues afterward as part of your recovery. Your family members might also want to attend a support group such as Nar-Anon.
When you have stopped using substances, you have taken the first step toward recovery. To gain full recovery, you need to take steps to improve other areas of your life, such as learning to deal with your work, family, and living situation in healthy ways. This makes it easier to stay substance-free.
You might start with your family doctor. Or your doctor may recommend that you enter a treatment program. You might go to a clinic that deals with substance use.
You may have a treatment team to help you. This team may include a psychologist or psychiatrist, counselors, doctors, social workers, nurses, and a case manager. A case manager helps plan and manage your treatment.
You may be asked questions about your drug use, health problems, work, and living situation. Be open and honest to get the best treatment possible. Your team may write a plan that includes your treatment goals and ways to reach those goals. This helps you stay on track.
Treatment for substance use disorder may include:
You may need medical care to manage withdrawal symptoms when you first quit. Some people call this detoxification, or detox. Detox usually is done under the care of a doctor. Withdrawal can be dangerous without medical care.
Treatment programs can be outpatient, inpatient, or residential. They offer similar therapies. Your treatment team can help you decide which type of program is best for you.
Treatment for substance use disorder usually involves one or more types of counseling. These may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), or family therapy.
Medicines are often used to treat substance use disorder. You may take medicines to help you quit using opioids or to help you overcome withdrawal symptoms. Medicines that can help you include methadone and naltrexone.
Recovery from substance use disorder means finding a way to stay substance-free while changing your attitudes and behaviors. Here are some tips for staying substance-free after treatment.
An important part of recovery is being sure you have support. You may:
If you have something to do that gives you a sense of purpose, you may be less likely to go back to using substances. For example, you might:
If you start to question your own beliefs and values, talk to a family member, friend, or spiritual advisor.
Triggers are things that might cause you to have a relapse. For example, having friends and family members who use substances may be a trigger. A counselor can help you find ways to avoid your triggers. They may include keeping substances out of your home or spending time with friends who don't use substances.
A relapse doesn't mean that you or your treatment has failed. It may mean that you just slipped up. You may need more treatment, another type of treatment, or more time in support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous.
It's smart to plan for a relapse before it happens. Your doctor, family, and friends can help you make a plan.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if you or someone else:
Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you or someone you know talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:
Consider saving these numbers in your phone.
Go to 988lifeline.org for more information or to chat online.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
Harvard Pilgrim has a large and growing network of behavioral health providers who offer expertise across dozens of behavioral health care specialties. Search our online directory to find a provider near you.
Spectrum Health Systems is a leading substance use treatment and mental health services provider in Massachusetts. From outpatient counseling to residential treatment programs, Spectrum Health Systems has a range of options that can support your progress toward recovery.
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