I’m Struggling with Substance Abuse: Can You Help?

Medications are an essential part of how we treat conditions and cope with pain and other issues. But often due to the habit-forming properties of a drug or psychological factors, substance abuse (more commonly known as substance use disorder) is a major problem that affects millions. 

As recently as 2020, over 37 million Americans 12 years of age and older have used illegal drugs within the last month, and over 13% of that same population overuse drugs.

The struggle with substance use can happen for a lot of reasons, but if you’re trying to break free, there are many options to help you overcome it. For residents of the Chicago, Illinois, area, looking for help with substance use disorder or other chronic problems, our medical team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care can help.

Let’s explore some facts about substance use disorder, the changes it creates, and the ways it can be treated.

Understanding substance use disorder

Substance use disorder is described as a chronic problem where specific medications, illegal drugs, or other substances affect changes in brain chemistry and behavior due to a dependence on the substance. This dependence creates an inability to resist it and affects every other aspect of your life. 

Substance use disorder carries a wide variety of mental and physical effects and can involve dependence on many things, like alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamines, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives, anabolic steroids, tobacco, club drugs, and prescription medications.

Though addiction varies from person to person, once you’ve become dependent on something, your need for that substance strengthens and becomes harder to resist. The goal of getting more begins to outweigh basic needs and leads to isolation from loved ones. 

Worse, the negative stigma associated with having a substance use problem can make people less likely to seek help because they blame themselves for the condition, which only deepens the cycle.

The effects of substance use disorder on your body

Regardless of what substance you’re dependent on, there’s a common range of symptoms associated with it, such as a steady increase of taking something, urges to take it even when you don’t need it, trying to cut down but being unable to, and obsessing over getting more. 

Substance use issues also lead to other physical and psychological problems, like forming a higher tolerance, which creates the need for a higher dose for the same effect, severe emotional changes, performing risky acts to get more, and hostility and denial when confronted about your problem.

Substance use disorder changes your brain chemistry, and in some cases, the risks can increase if your family has genetic factors that make you more vulnerable. There’s also an overlap with people coping with mental health issues, as these problems can lead to substance use issues while addiction can cause mental health problems. 

Treatment options for substance use disorder

There are several options for helping you recover from substance use problems, such as different types of therapy (behavioral, cognitive, and motivational enhancement) and various medications that can treat dependence (detoxing and withdrawal). 

Inpatient treatment offers direct hospital care to manage various issues as you detox, or there are different types of outpatient care that can help. 

Equally important to the treatments we can offer is getting involved in support groups and reaching out to loved ones for positive support as the process can be far more difficult if you try to go it alone.

Dealing with substance use issues is difficult and can change you for the worse quickly, but it’s a medical condition that can be treated. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re ready to make that important first step, make an appointment with Michigan Avenue Primary Care today to get control of your life back. Call our office or book an appointment online.