January is Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is making a push to help those who suffer from this disorder. Please check out their website at www.samhsa.gov for more information on their weekly themes.

I’ve been lucky enough to have learned much from some of my local Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) councils over the last couple years, and I would like to share some of what I’ve learned.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has gone by many names, and the language surrounding this disorder has been updated lately. Most recently, it has been called “Substance Abuse,” and some organizations still sport this moniker. However, by labeling it as a “use disorder,” it signifies that it’s a problem with using the substance rather than abusing it.

The change in name calls attention to the fact that this is a disorder rather than an active choice to abuse drugs. While this may seem like mincing words, it is important to realize that many who have issues with substances began by using the substance as intended or in a moderate amount.

Another reason for the change in name is to point out that it involves a person with a disorder rather than using terms such as “addict,” “junkie” or other pejoratives. The goal of person-first language is simple: To remind you that they are still a person who should not be defined by a singular (especially negative) word. Also, consider if you would use these labels to describe an 11 or 80-year-old? Because a person of almost any age can be affected by SUD.

Besides instilling compassion for someone with SUD, modern language hopes to help reduce stigma. With so much negative stigma attached to drug and alcohol misuse, many find it difficult to find help. By breaking down barriers, more can get the treatment they need and reduce the prevalence of this ubiquitous disorder.

My local public health department ran a successful campaign to help address stigmas surrounding SUD. They produced interviews with real, local individuals who are in various stages of recovery. I urge you to watch these videos when you can. I also suggest you do it somewhere private as it is likely to trigger some pretty intense emotions.

People with SUD are just like you and me. Nobody says, “I want to be someone with substance use disorder when I grow up.” It’s a problem because it ceases to be a choice and, instead, becomes a strong compulsion.

You might be surprised at some of the diagnostic criteria in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5):

• Time spent using, obtaining or thinking about or recovering from a substance
• Using a substance longer or in a greater dose than advised
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Cravings
• Tolerance, which requires an increase in substance usage
• Withdrawal occurs when the substance is not used
• Lack of ability to stop or decrease use even if problems are encountered
• Giving up activities that once brought pleasure
• Exacerbation of psychological or physical problems

A lot of this makes sense and closely mirrors other disorders such as anxiety and depression which may also accompany SUD.

While there are some similar methods that help, other treatments for SUD vary widely than those for other major disorders. The obvious goal is the stoppage of use of the substance. However, this doesn’t address the underlying cause or motivation for using the substance. Drugs and alcohol have different effects depending on what they are. Some can lower inhibitions, some can provide a burst of energy and some can calm a person down. Indeed, some of the medication used to treat other disorders can be abused by a person, like anxiety medication or an ADHD medication. A dependence on the effects of the drug force the user to keep chasing the effects by increasing the amount or prolonging the use.

Therefore, therapy is usually the first step for anyone suffering from SUD. Whether this comes in the form of one-on-one counseling or joining a group, this is an essential element to beginning treatment. Someone with SUD needs a supportive team to help them. Often, someone with SUD has exhausted their own primary support group of friends and family due to the aspects of the disease.

Another unique aspect of SUD which must be addressed with treatment is withdrawal. When substances leave your body, there can be intense physical, emotional or mental response which may require the care of a doctor or other medical professional.

Some medications are utilized to help ween someone off of the substances they are using. However, care must be taken to ensure that these medications, such as methadone, naltrexone, nicotine patches or gum, are not misused by the patient. Many treatment programs are inpatient and last from 30 days to months or more. Unfortunately, these programs can be very expensive, meaning this kind of treatment is only available to those who can afford it.

While complete cessation of substance use may be the goal, sometimes this goal isn’t reasonable. Many people are unable or unwilling to adhere to a strict therapeutic or medical program. For some, reduction of use is a realistic goal. Though this may again seem like a choice, there are numerous reasons why a person can’t submit to these programs.

Perhaps they are the only caregiver for another person or family. Maybe they are unable to get time off from work. A person may have distrust in the system due to being exploited by authority figures. Fear of job loss, home, family or income can also prevent a person from getting help.

In cases like this, other tactics must be leveraged. One such approach is harm reduction, which means engaging the person directly to help prevent more severe repercussions from substance use such as infectious diseases, overdoses and other physical harm. Once a person is engaged, they are encouraged to live healthy, purposeful lives. By providing a service-first mentality, an organization can help build trust to form a relationship with a person suffering from SUD. Often, these organizations are based in the community and work with local law enforcement and health care providers to provide a more supportive, rather than punitive environment.

Inpatient programs, therapy, community organizations and harm reduction are excellent, evidence-based recovery options for people. Unfortunately, there are still numerous hurdles for people seeking treatment. Paramount of these is availability and access of care.

In Illinois, many people in rural areas don’t have access to transportation and there are not local treatment services. While many people think substance use is worse in big cities, rural usage has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, the rate of overdose deaths in rural US has surpassed that of urban areas. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury or death in the US and that rural people are at greatest risk from dying of an overdose. In 2022, 22 of the 102 counties in Illinois were considered entirely rural and most states in the US have a larger rural population base than we do. This means that a large percentage of US citizens doesn’t have access to the necessary programs to help with SUD.

Finally, as a facility entirely devoted to non-adults, we are acutely aware of the lack of treatment options for persons under the age of 18. Other than traditional therapy, most of the options I’ve listed are rarely available to a minor. While much of the focus in the US appears to be on adults, we need to address the fact that young adults – and even children – are not only exposed to substances through their home environment, but some have become substance users during or even before middle school. Numerous studies show that most children are at risk to experiment with alcohol by age 10, experiment with prescribed drugs by 11 and hallucinogens by age 16. Studies also show that those who start using substances early continue to use these substances longer than those who start later in life. Therefore, it is critical that people with SUD are identified and treated early.

I realize this blog sounds pretty bleak. There are endless statistics and stories detailing how SUD is insidious and destructive. Thankfully, we are making significant strides in identifying new and effective treatments.

Because SUD is so prevalent, agencies and organizations are applying resources to both identify and provide treatment to this disorder. The more we talk about the disorder and address it directly, the quicker we can eliminate stigma and help more people enter recovery. As professionals and community members, we can choose to provide understanding and support to these individuals, rather than saddle them with additional ridicule. We can teach ourselves about the disorder and work to ensure that our communities obtain the types of resources which have proved effective in treating those with SUD.

At the very least, when we encounter someone whose life has been altered by substance use, we can be respectful and compassionate. We can use language which reflects the fact that someone suffering from SUD is a brother, sister, child, parent, grandparent or neighbor, rather than some unknown “junkie” who has chosen to be an addict rather than a productive member of society.

Chas Swearingen is a community liaison for Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center. He obtained his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois- Springfield and has worked exclusively in the mental health field for the last 11 years. He’s a traditional dork who plays D&D, listens to punk music and is a marine biologist in an alternative universe. He lives in Carlinville, IL with his wife, their sons, a big brown dog and a cat which adopted them.

Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center is a standalone facility that provides psychiatric treatment to children and adolescents ages 3-17. We pride ourselves on dedicating compassionate mental health treatment that encourages personal growth and self-responsibility to youth. This including providing psychiatric treatment to children and adolescents that present a broad range of behavioral and psychiatric disorders. We’ve created a therapeutic and supportive environment that allows us to work with our youth and their family to accomplish their goals.

Some of our promotes that helps to aid in us supporting our patients are our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as our telehealth. Located in Springfield, Illinois our facility has a welcoming and atmosphere that consistently promotes the healing of children. To schedule a no-cost assessment or for more information, please call 217-585-1180.