Substance Use Disorder Archives

Supporting Your Loved One with a Substance Use Disorder During the Holiday Season

During the holidays, families come together to share meals and make new memories that can last a lifetime. However, for those with a substance use disorder (SUD), this can be both a blessing and a challenge. Supporting a loved one with SUDs may mean changing up the routine to help everyone feel included. Individuals with SUDs will do their best to meet holiday traditions, but friends and family can do their part to be accommodating as well.

Why the Holidays Sometimes Trigger Substance Use Disorders

Between shopping, planning, and traveling, there is typically a lot going on during this time of year. For those with SUDs, walking past the wine rack might be even more difficult than usual. However, by focusing on healthy coping mechanisms, your loved one with substance abuse disorders can get through the holidays with their sanity and sobriety intact. Stress is amplified by reminders of loneliness, family conflict, and financial trouble for those with addiction.

How to Support a Loved One with SUDs During the Holidays

You can help your loved one with SUD stay true to their recovery during the holidays and beyond. Here are some simple tips for doing that.

Don’t Build Parties Around Alcohol

Put the alcohol away, or better yet, don’t buy it at all if you have a loved one with SUD. Watching others drink makes family gatherings and social events awkward and difficult for those with SUDs. Even if they have been in recovery for a long time, they can stumble and relapse during or after a holiday party with alcohol or illicit substances.

Tune into Behaviors

If you attend a holiday event with a friend who has SUDs, keep an eye on them to determine whether they feel comfortable or overwhelmed. You can do this without policing them. Support them with your presence and hold off on grabbing an alcoholic beverage to celebrate the holidays. Most importantly, don’t challenge or put them on the defensive, which may trigger anxiety or relapse.

Suggest an Early Evening

Before leaving for the event, discuss an early exit strategy. As parties drag on, inhibitions may wear down, and your loved one may feel the pressure of their SUD more. Attending for an hour or so and then leaving can alleviate the pressure to stay sober while everyone else is having a drink for the holidays. Prepare to serve as the designated driver. If all goes well, you and your loved one will both be in great condition to drive home. However, it’s better to cover your bases.

Plan Productive and Sober Activities

Healthy activities promote physical and mental well-being — gift your loved one with yoga classes or a gym membership. Skiing and hiking make great holiday activities that boost your endorphins without triggering a relapse in those with SUDs. In any case, staying active is one of the best ways you can support your loved one in recovery.

Help Is Always Available for Substance Use Disorders

When it comes to supporting your loved one with a SUD, keep it simple and don’t forget to enjoy the holidays yourself. By staying relaxed and showing you care, you already provide more support than you know. Keep your loved ones plugged into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), which often sponsor special events during the holidays. If necessary, recommend family therapy focused on dealing with substance use disorders during the holidays.

Education and awareness can prevent triggering events and help everyone enjoy the most beautiful time of the year. Additionally, reaching out your hand to a loved one with SUD reminds them that they are not alone. That may be the best gift you can give them this year. If someone you love is exhibiting the signs of a substance abuse disorder, it’s time to reach out for help. Using the Addiction Treatment Needs Assessment on the Treatment Connection website, you can determine what type of treatment you or your loved one most likely needs.

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (collectively, “Information”) contained on this blog post are for informational purposes only. None of the Information is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog post.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use

When discussing treatment approaches for substance use disorders (SUDs), therapy is a common option. Therapy is often used in conjunction with pharmacotherapy (medication). Many people do not realize there are many different types of therapy that can help individuals recovering from an SUD.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the more common types of therapy used to help those overcoming substance misuse. Since its creation in the 1960s, the American Psychology Association (APA) says CBT has been found to be effective in treating several behavioral health disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, mental illness, and SUDs related to alcohol and drugs.

CBT’s main strategy is to change negative thought patterns to influence behavior. By changing the way an individual thinks, they can overcome thoughts of substance use and, in turn, adopt a healthier way of coping.

The APA says CBT was developed on several principal ideas, which include:

Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

A study reviewing 30 other academic studies found that CBT combined with pharmacotherapy had an increased benefit for patients struggling with alcohol, cocaine, and opioid use compared to usual clinical management or non-specialized counseling. However, the study found CBT did not perform better than another specific type of therapy. The analysis of these 30 studies supported the idea that CBT and pharmacotherapy can be considered one of the best practices in SUD treatment.

So, how do you change the negative thought patterns that influence your behavior? That’s where a cognitive behavioral therapist comes in. A CBT specialist can help you become more aware of the consequences of your negative thoughts and actions that influence a SUD. The goal of becoming more aware of your mind is to adopt healthier coping mechanisms that break the detrimental cycle of substance use.

American Addiction Centers says you can expect your cognitive behavioral therapist to educate you on your diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. During your CBT session, you will voice your negative thoughts, behavior, and stressors. Your therapist will then challenge these beliefs and integrate healthy, positive coping skills.

Some common skills learned in CBT include:

Distracting yourself from negative thoughts with productive activities such as drawing, cleaning, exercising, etc.
Learning how to navigate situations that hinder your recovery such as declining a drink at a party
Adopting healthier, more effective strategies to relieve feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression
Building a sense of self-confidence and self-respect
Using effective problem-solving strategies
Recognizing and conquering triggers that may contribute to relapse

Because CBT is personalized to cater an individual’s needs, coping mechanisms and skills learned to prevent relapse can vary.

Recovery may seem like an uphill battle, but with the right tools, you can overcome an SUD. By conquering negative thoughts and replacing them with healthy behaviors, CBT can reprogram your mind to help you live a happier, healthier life.

Not sure where to start? We can help. To find SUD treatment near you, visit the Treatment Connection website today.

Substance Use Disorder In Indigenous Communities

Indigenous communities are at high risk of substance use disorder due to a variety of reasons. The outreach to indigenous populations is often poor in quality, and many indigenous youths do not get exposure to the available substance use disorder treatment. Many indigenous communities are denied the basic technology that others rely on heavily for information and education. Thus, substance use disorder in indigenous communities is often not addressed adequately. This leads many to begin misusing substances at a young age, and without any guidance about how to avoid or recover from drug or alcohol misuse, many develop an addiction. Developing drug and alcohol intervention programs for indigenous communities would improve the overall health and wellness of not just those struggling with dependency but all of those who care for and interact with them.

Alcohol Misuse Leading to Other Substance Misuse

Indigenous communities see a higher prevalence of alcohol misuse among teens when compared to communities of Caucasian youth in the United States. Indigenous communities show alcohol misuse among teenage boys grades 9-12 at 49% and girls the same age at 35.7%. For non-indigenous communities, the rate of alcohol misuse was 38.6% for males and 21.9% for females. Regarding marijuana misuse, the rates for indigenous communities were higher than those in non-Indigenous communities at comparable rates. Early alcohol misuse can lead to several issues, including:

Turning to more powerful drugs because of a lack of understanding
Difficulty in early adulthood trying to work or go to school
Poor interpersonal relationships because of the addiction
Trouble recognizing the issues of addiction because of limited education and resources

Early intervention is essential to a positive outcome when it comes to teenagers and substance use disorder. Indigenous populations must develop a more comprehensive strategy to address inequities in the delivery of valuable resources. For populations at risk of substance use disorder, we need to provide substance use disorder treatment that is accessible.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Addiction

Although indigenous communities struggle with addiction treatment resources, there are opportunities for treatment once you identify an addiction exists. A lack of understanding plays a big role in addiction throughout the indigenous community, and many become addicted to substances because of this. In areas of substantial poverty, the use of substances grows. Indigenous communities experience poverty at higher levels than others, and it’s important to deal with these inequalities to begin dealing with systemic substance use disorder. Studies have shown that when substance use disorder programs are designed alongside indigenous groups there are significant benefits.

The Addiction Treatment Process

Addiction treatment begins with time in a detox facility. For people addicted to alcohol, detox is an important component of recovery. Detox allows you to go through the withdrawal process with the right support in place. If you are an indigenous community member, you can still find substance use disorder treatment in the United States. To locate treatment, you can:

Contact area detox facilities to see what is available
Look for a national helpline to find substance use disorder treatment
Speak to your doctor about finding substance use disorder treatment
Do your research online to find the right program

Once you complete detox, you can move on to a short-term rehab program for addiction. After you determine that you need help for an addiction, look into finding a program that is right for you. Heal your life when you take control of your addiction.

Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment Today

Substance use disorder in indigenous communities continues to spread, so it’s important to reach out for help when you need it. Even though indigenous populations are at a greater risk of substance use disorder due to a lack of resources, poverty, and education, there is support available. When you know that you have a problem with addiction but aren’t sure what to do, calling for help is a good first step. You can find the support you need with the Treatment Connection website.

Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health in Hispanic Communities

Rates of the prevalence of substance use disorder in Hispanic communities typically mirror that of the general U.S. population. However, some indicators show that substance use and mental health disorders, including co-occurring disorders requiring dual diagnosis treatment, may be slightly higher due to sociodemographic factors.

These factors may also prevent or deter those who suffer from substance use and mental health disorders from receiving the much-needed treatment to get them on the road to recovery.

Those in the Hispanic, Latinx (Latino/Latina), and Chicano communities can face difficulties when seeking the necessary treatment for mental health challenges. Using the Treatment Connection portal is an easy way to find trusted treatment providers and programs.

Sociodemographic Factors

Researchers examined the relationship between substance use and culture in the Hispanic community. They have determined several factors contributing to drug and alcohol addiction, including:

Cultural Values: Like many other cultures, some values within Latinx culture promotes abstinence and avoidance as the only means to address drugs or alcohol addiction.
Language: Researchers have found the stress of having to learn a non-familiar language can contribute to substance use rates. The process of learning, adapting, and assimilating can be significant stressors and triggers, especially when resources to provide aid for this are minimal.
Place of Birth: In some studies, it has been determined that birthplace may play a role in drug and alcohol use. Those who immigrate to the United States are less likely to turn to substances. However, for each generation born into the country, the chances of substance use disorder and mental illness increase. For example, a first-generation immigrant of Hispanic origin is slightly more at risk of using and abusing drugs than their parents.
Sociodemographics: Age, marital status, and employment status also seem to impact one’s likelihood to develop a substance use disorder. Married Latinx report fewer alcohol and drug-related challenges while those who are younger and often single report higher usage. For those who may be unemployed at any age, the risk and prevalence of use are much higher.

Treatment Disparities in the Hispanic Community

Assimilating to a new country and its culture can bring about many mental health challenges. As immigrants are faced with discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, and even governmental laws, they may turn to substance use to help cope with the anxiety, stress, depression, and pressure that they may feel.

Unfortunately, studies also reveal that those within the Hispanic community are also faced with disparities in available options when they find themselves in need of mental health and substance use treatment. For example, several surveys indicate that Latinx people experience the following when seeking treatment:

Less access to treatment facilities
Longer wait time to access treatment options
Less satisfaction with services received
Reduced access to insurance/payment options

Aside from the systematic disparities Hispanics and Latinx experience in receiving necessary treatment, several cultural factors may hinder their desire and ability to enter into a treatment program. Shame and embarrassment that they may be experiencing a mental health challenge may prevent some individuals from entering a treatment program. Similarly, the fear of disrupting family relationships or the ability to work also prevents many people from receiving the treatment they need.

Seeking Substance Use or Mental Health Treatment in the Hispanic Community

Regardless of one’s birthplace, language, cultural values, substance use, and mental health disorders, serious diseases can lead to devastating outcomes if left untreated. At Treatment Connection, we help everyone who needs substance use or mental health treatment gain access to treatment programs to help them get on the road to recovery. If you or a loved one needs treatment, we can help you find the appropriate program to suit your needs, bearing in mind your specific cultural and family requirements.

Visit Treatment Connection to take a 13-question assessment and find the best type and intensity of addiction treatment for you or a loved one.

What to Expect in Drug Rehab

If you’re affected by signs of drug addiction, it’s time to seek a diagnosis from a trained professional. Your doctor or an addiction specialist will determine if you fit the criteria for addiction or misuse. If you do, they will also recommend options for appropriate treatment. What should you expect during your time in substance use treatment? The course of care varies somewhat from person to person. However, this general overview will explain the milestones typically experienced in a recovery program to give you or a loved one a sense of what to expect.

What to Expect in Drug Treatment

Help Detoxing From the Source of Your Addiction

A person with substance use disorder may face withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using drugs. As you enter a treatment program, you may face physical symptoms as you halt your drug use. Some opioid-specific recovery programs encourage use of opioid agonist medications to help prevent intense withdrawal symptoms, while others encourage no drugs at all. If you are looking for a treatment program, you may want to consider medication-assisted programs or abstinence-only programs depending on what may work best for you.

If you choose an abstinence-only approach, dealing with withdrawal on your own can be extremely difficult. In drug treatment, you don’t go through withdrawal on your own. Instead, you receive support from supervised detox or detoxification professionals. This supervised approach:

Helps make your withdrawal symptoms easier to tolerate
Keeps you safe as the stages of withdrawal proceed
Provides any needed assistance for withdrawal complications

The exact steps used to meet these goals depend on the specific substance in your system.

Treatment That Supports Long-Term Recovery

Stopping use of substances is just one part of your addiction recovery. However, by itself, it may not be enough to help you stay on the path to recovery. You may need continued support from a drug treatment plan.

This plan has both short- and long-term goals. Your treatment plan will help you avoid relapse in the short term. In the long term, it provides you with the skills and abilities you need to stay in recovery when acute treatment ends.

There are two main options for drug treatment. The first of these options, psychotherapy, plays a part in most recovery plans. The second, medication, may be used to help people affected by certain forms of addiction. When used, medication typically helps support your short-term recovery. Therapy provides longer-term support by showing you how to do things such as:

Identify the things in everyday life that make you more likely to return to substance use.
Learn how to avoid or cope with those influences while maintaining your recovery
Develop new behaviors, emotional responses in the short term, and thoughts that help you stay in recovery

Medication and therapy options differ for specific forms of addiction.

Drug Treatment Help After Primary Treatment

As a rule, you still need professional support when primary drug treatment ends. For this reason, many high-quality programs feature aftercare services. These services help you stay in touch with important professional resources. They may also provide support from recovery peers who have gone through the treatment process.

Turn to Treatment Connection for Top Recovery Providers in Your Area

The quality of the drug treatment you receive has a major impact on your recovery. At Treatment Connection, we provide you with a 24/7 resource for finding the top mental health and substance use treatment facilities in your area. Whenever you want, you can access our pre-screened directory of addiction specialists.

Search for a particular provider or conduct a zip code search. Whichever option you choose, you’ll only see qualified professionals in your search findings. What’s more, all searches are anonymous to help preserve your privacy. To begin the process of recovery, start using Treatment Connection today.

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