September is National Recovery Month, a time where we recognize and celebrate those in recovery from substance use disorders. The tagline for the month is “every person, every family, every community.” Substance use disorders can impact anyone — individuals and families or whole communities alike. But just as it can impact anyone, recovery is possible for anyone. It may not be an easy road, but it is a road worth taking.
What Are Substance Use Disorders?
Substance use disorder (SUD) is an umbrella term for conditions in which your mental health, daily life, and/or relationships are negatively impacted by your use of substances such as alcohol, illicit drugs, or a misuse of medications. In severe cases, a SUD is referred to as an addiction. Symptoms of SUD include:
- Frequently drinking more than you planned
- Frequently attempting and failing to cut back on drinking or drug use
- Feeling a strong desire for drugs or alcohol
- Frequently drinking or using illicit drugs during school, work, or family time
- Withdrawing from social commitments to drink or use illicit drugs
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
- Continuing your alcohol or drug use despite a negative impact on relationships
There is often shame attached to SUDs and that shame can get in the way of recovery. Feeling guilt or shame about your drug or alcohol use can lead to a spiral of self-loathing and hopelessness that increases the abuse of those substances. It’s important to understand that if you suffer from a SUD, you are not alone. 46.3 million people aged 12 and over meet the criteria for a substance abuse disorder¹. And because substance abuse disorders are so common, so are the resources to help you recover.
Risk Factors for Substance Use Disorders
There are a number of factors that can influence or intensify substance abuse disorders. You may have multiple vulnerability factors, from family history to your own mental health experience. Common risk factors for substance abuse include:
Family History of Substance Use
There is a genetic component to substance misuse. In fact, family studies have shown that genetics account for half of an individual’s risk for substance abuse disorders². There is also the environmental aspect of family history. If your parents or a close family member struggling with substance abuse exposed you to alcohol or illicit drugs at an early age, you may be more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder.
This does not mean, of course, that if someone in your family had a SUD, you will definitely develop a SUD. This simply means that you may be more susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse than others and may have to consider your use with care.
Environment
The environment in which you were raised — such as the above mentioned early exposure to drugs or alcohol — may make you more vulnerable to SUD. But your family is not the only environment that can influence you. Your group of friends at school or neighbors who heavily drink or use illicit drugs can also be an environmental factor. Minors often begin drinking or using drugs due to social pressure from their friends, and this could be a factor into young adulthood, as well.
History of Mental Health
Mental illness can be loud and overwhelming, especially if untreated. Although over half of Americans are seeking mental health support, many do not have access to the care they need. Long waitlists, a lack of insurance, or simply an inability to access the office can all make it easier to reach for a drink than to start therapy or antidepressants. Substance abuse cannot effectively treat mental illness. It can, however, numb the pain of it or silence that constant presence in your mind. Unfortunately, it also tends to exacerbate and even cause mental illness.
Trauma or Emotional Distress
Similar to self-medicating mental illnesses with drugs and alcohol, many individuals turn to binge drinking or drug use in the wake of an emotionally distressing situation. For instance, if you have recently suffered a trauma or are grieving the loss of a loved one, the idea of taking a mind-altering substance may sound appealing. The trouble is that if you come to rely on these substances in a vulnerable period of your life, it will be difficult to break free of them.
Physical Injury
Some SUDs begin with legitimate drug use. For instance, you may be prescribed a strong painkiller after a physical injury. As you recover from your injury, however, you may develop a reliance on that painkiller. If you find yourself renewing your prescription or finding ways to get the painkiller illicitly long after your pain has dissipated, you are struggling with a SUD.
Recovering From Substance Use Disorder
No matter how long the problem has gone on, recovery from substance use is possible. However, it takes work and a commitment to change. Here are some strategies for recovering from a SUD:
Recognize That You Have a SUD
You’ve likely heard it said: the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. While this may sound simple, it can be harder to recognize in reality. As your mind becomes more reliant on drugs or alcohol, it also finds ways to justify or rationalize your behavior as “normal.” With that shame that is often attached to SUD, it may be even more challenging to admit you have a problem. Listen to your friends and family who express concern, and look at your behaviors without judgment. Addiction is not a character flaw. It is an illness, and you can get better.
Reach Out For Help
Rather than making a silent decision to quit cold turkey, reach out for help and support. This may involve going to a rehabilitation center, asking your friends and family to hold you accountable, or finding a recovery support group. There will be times when it will feel easy to quit, and there will be times when it will feel much harder. It’s important to have a support network who can help you through those harder times.
Remove Yourself From Vulnerability Factors
If you want to quit drinking, remove alcohol from your home. If you want to quit using illicit drugs, you may need to stop going to social events where you know that others may be using. You may even need to cut people out of your life who could potentially put you at risk for falling back into your SUD. This is where recovery can be a struggle for many. It often requires significant change to your life and saying goodbye to events or even people that you love if they are not helpful for you.
Forgive Yourself and Keep Trying
Progress is not linear. Chances are at some point, you may relapse or fall back into bad habits. The important thing is to forgive yourself and to keep working on your recovery. A singular relapse does not mean that you have failed. However, many individuals become disheartened or self-loathing after a relapse, which can lead them to think that they are beyond help and to slide back into their old habits. As Jenette McCurdy said in her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, it’s important not to “let a slip become a slide.”
Fill the Void With Healthier Habits
One issue with recovery from substance abuse is that it leaves a void in your life. Binge drinking and frequent drug use can take up significant time in your schedule as well as mental energy. As you recover, you will find that suddenly there is a span of time or space than you had before. It’s important not to jump into another addiction but rather to fill that void with healthier habits. For instance, spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or taking care of your health. Work with a therapist about a strategy to fill the void left behind by addiction with healthier coping strategies.
If you are recovering from substance abuse, Rivia Mind is here to help. We have a strong mental health provider network filled with skilled and compassionate professionals experienced with helping clients recover from substance use. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
Resources:
- SAMSHA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Results Detailing Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels in 2021 – US Department of Health and Human Services
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction DrugFacts – National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Study Reveals Lack of Access as Root Cause for Mental Health Crisis in America – National Council for Mental Wellbeing
