Substance Abuse

What is substance abuse?

Substance abuse disorder is a mental health condition that causes compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite increasingly negative consequences. No one starts to use drugs or alcohol with the intention of developing a substance abuse disorder. You may have wanted to feel good or better, improve your performance, or even sate your curiosity about what a particular drug feels like.

While medical researchers and physicians still study why some people develop substance abuse disorders and others don't, they have found that your brain chemistry plays a part. If you have a substance abuse disorder, there are irregularities in the region of your brain that control your reasoning, decision-making, and impulse control. Additionally, the more you misuse a substance, the more severe those brain abnormalities become, which increases your symptoms and urges to use drugs or alcohol. 

In some cases, substance abuse co-occurs with other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder. You may start to use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate to dull your negative thoughts and feelings.

What are the signs of a substance abuse disorder?

In addition to compulsive use of drugs or alcohol, substance abuse disorder causes other symptoms, including:

• Feeling that you need to use the drug more frequently or in greater amounts
• Needing more of the substance to feel the same effects
• Not fulfilling work or family obligations
• Continuing to use the substance despite adverse consequences
• Doing things you wouldn't normally do — such as steal — to get the drug
• Failing in your attempts to stop using the substance
• Suffering from withdrawal symptoms

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you should contact Revived Soul Medical P.C. for expert treatment for substance abuse. The team offers compassionate, customized therapy and support to help you achieve sobriety.

How is substance abuse treated?

Revived Soul Medical P.C. provides customized, multidisciplinary substance abuse treatment to address your specific needs. For example, you may benefit from a combination of medications, such as Suboxone®, combined with individual and group therapy. 

While substance abuse medication reduces your withdrawal symptoms and your urge to use the drug, therapy is critical to helping you resolve the issues that led to substance abuse and learn techniques to prevent future use of the substance. 

If you're ready to commit to recovery, call Revived Soul Medical P.C. or make an appointment online today.