What is SUD and addiction

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Substance use disorder is serious — but recovery is possible

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a common and treatable health condition. It’s a treatable disease, not a lack of willpower. People who struggle with SUD become unable to control how much they use alcohol or drugs, no matter how badly they want to. When a person with SUD either reduces their use to safe levels or stops using altogether, they are in recovery. And with the right support, the journey to recovery is possible for everyone.

 

Substance use disorders are common and treatable
  • 1 in 7 people will develop a substance use disorder.1
  • 22 million Americans are currently living in recovery.2


What causes SUD?

Anyone can experience SUD — it’s nobody’s fault, and there’s no single cause. But there are several factors that can potentially increase a person’s risk for developing SUD, or that commonly occur alongside SUD.
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  • Genetics and family history 
  • Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
  • Environmental influences — such as peer pressure, drugs and alcohol in the media, difficult family life, traumatic experiences, and abuse
  • Drinking or using drugs from an early age — which can cause changes in the developing brain
  • Using highly addictive substances — like alcohol, nicotine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, or opioids

 

There are many substances that can lead to SUD

Learn more about some of the most common ones, and find out about risks, treatment options, and more:


Use, misuse, and SUD — what’s the difference?

Drug and alcohol use can be harmful to your health — but not everyone who uses alcohol or drugs has SUD. You know yourself best, so if you’re concerned about how much you’re drinking or using, talk to your care team. With the right support and resources, many people are able to cut down, reduce their use to safer levels, or stop altogether.
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Some people can use certain substances safely — such as taking prescription drugs as directed, or drinking alcohol within the low-risk limits. People who misuse alcohol or drugs use them in excessive amounts, even if it causes problems with work, school, relationships, or their health.

People with SUD or addiction have a long-term inability to control how much or how often they drink or use — even if they really want to. Many experience intense cravings and increased tolerance, and some experience physical symptoms of withdrawal if they stop using alcohol or drugs. These symptoms are real, serious, and can be painful. Unfortunately, some people don’t realize they’re struggling with SUD until they experience withdrawal symptoms.


Helping someone who’s living with SUD or addiction

Person offering support to friend in treatment

It’s incredibly difficult to watch someone you care about struggle with alcohol or drugs. But it’s also important to know that they aren’t choosing alcohol or drugs over friends and family. They’re living with a real, treatable medical condition — and may need professional help to address it. The best you can do is provide encouragement and hope — and try to help them get the support they need. 

To start, you can:

  • Educate yourself about SUD and addiction and how they’re treated 
  • Learn how to communicate your concerns without passing judgment or placing blame
  • Offer your support and let them know you believe they can get better
  • Encourage them to get professional support and help them take the first steps


Taking care of yourself

You can’t help someone else if your own needs aren’t being met — no matter how much you care about them. Whether your loved one seeks treatment or not, it’s important to take care of your own mental health. You might want to explore clinical mental health services or wellness apps that can help you manage stress and anxiety. Support groups for families, friends, and loved ones of people struggling with alcohol or drugs — like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon — can also be extremely helpful.


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Footnotes
1 “Surgeon General Issues Landmark Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health,” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, November 17, 2016.
2 John F. Kelly et al., “Prevalence and Pathways of Recovery From Drug and Alcohol Problems in the United States Population: Implications for Practice, Research, and Policy,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, December 2017.