Substance use disorder is one of the most pressing—and misunderstood—mental health challenges facing individuals and families today. At UC Health, we treat it with the gravity it deserves. As Greater Cincinnati’s academic health system, we combine compassionate, patient-centered care with evidence-based treatments and groundbreaking research to support recovery and restore lives. Our experts recognize substance use disorder not as a failure of character, but as a chronic, treatable condition that affects both brain function and behavior. That’s why we offer advanced therapies, integrated care models, and access to clinical trials—because we believe every person deserves a real chance at recovery.

Did you know?

• In 2022, 48.5 million Americans (12 and older) had a substance use disorder.
• In 2022, 54.2 million Americans (12 and older) needed treatment for a substance use disorder, but only 23% of those received the treatment needed.

Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Results from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.

What is substance use disorder?

Substance use disorder is a chronic disease of the brain that involves the use of a substance despite the harmful consequences of its use. Substance use disorder, which used to be referred to as drug addiction, is a mental health condition and can be treated. 

How does substance use disorder affect a person?

Substance use disorder affects how your brain learns and works. Once the brain is exposed to an addictive substance, such as drugs or alcohol, it begins to change. The more the brain is exposed to these substances, the more it tries to impact a person’s self-control. The substance mimics the brain’s neurochemistry so that over time the things you once enjoyed no longer matter as much as the substance does. The longer you use the substance the more the brain chemistry is altered. This can result in the individual requiring more of the substance to feel normal. Once this happens, the individual can become reliant on the substance so that it is all they think about, no longer thinking about the physical, emotional or social harm that comes from it.

What are the types of substance use disorders?

There are many types of substance use disorders, some of the common ones include:

• Alcohol use disorder.
• Cocaine use disorder.
• Cannabis use disorder.
• Tobacco use disorder.
• Methamphetamine use disorder.
• Opioid use disorder.

Who is at risk of substance use disorder?

While there are certain things that can put people at a higher risk of substance use disorder, it can happen to anyone, regardless of their social class, race, gender, education or income level. Just because a person exhibits one or more of these risk factors does not mean they will develop a substance use disorder.

• Genetics: Having a relative with a substance use disorder puts a person at a 40%-60% higher risk.
• Having a co-occurring mental health condition.
• Having access to substances.
• Having negative or traumatic life events.

How does a substance use disorder develop?

There are many factors that can lead to a substance use disorder, they can range from genetic to environmental factors. This can include work stressors, societal pressures, as well as untreated mental illness.

Substance use disorders are a progressive disease.  It can start off with experimental use and transition to regular use. It can often lead to using more of the substance and self-isolation. It then moves into using the substance on a routine basis, with very few to no days off and causing significant issues in their lives. Finally, a person moves into the substance use disorder stage and potentially develops a psychological dependency in which they are using the substance on a daily basis, often multiple times per day, and using is no longer a choice but out of necessity so as to not experience withdrawal.

What are the signs of a substance use disorder?

There can be many potential signs of when someone is developing a substance use disorder.

They may seem confused at times, show episodes of violence, neglect to eat, no longer care about their physical appearance, stop taking part in activities that they once loved, may begin missing work or school, or you may start seeing a decrease in their performance. One of the more prominent signs of a substance use disorder is a change in the individual's personality and relationships.

When confronted about their use, they may become hostile, and they may continue to use despite the consequences of their use. This can lead to their work, family and health being severely impacted. Individuals with a substance use disorder can feel ambivalent about their use and quitting the substance, which can lead them to self-isolate, use alone, use more than intended, and result in significant health issues.   

What are the complications of substance use disorder?

When it comes to substance use disorder, there are so many complications that can arise from it. It can truly destroy not only the life of the person using, but the lives of their loved ones as well.

• Job loss- Most jobs require drug tests and do not allow employees to work if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A person is very likely to be fired if they fail a drug test.
• Jail time- If a person is caught with illegal drugs, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they are likely going to go to jail.
• Physical health- Most of the substances being referred to when talking about substance use disorder are dangerous to a person’s health. Most of them cause multiple types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hepatitis and HIV through shared needles, lung disease, etc.
• Mental health- Substance use disorder can cause a host of mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, etc.
• Relationships- Substance use disorder can cause a host of issues within relationships, romantic and familial. It breaks down trust, which is necessary in any relationship. It can also cause a person to have unsafe sexual practices which can end in STDs and unwanted pregnancies. 

Can you recover from substance use disorder?

Recovery from substance use disorder isn’t easy—but it is possible. With the right support and treatment, healing can begin. Everyone has a chance to reclaim their life, and it starts with taking that first step.

Recovery options

There are many different options for recovery, but typically, a successful program includes detox, behavior counseling, medication and long-term follow-up.

• Detoxification - If you have drugs or alcohol in your system, the first step is to rid your body of them. This will often cause withdrawal symptoms, which medication can help with.
• Behavioral counseling - Counseling helps a person understand why they use substances in the first place and helps them learn coping skills. It can be individual or group counseling.
• Medication - Medication may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, but also can be used if a person learns they have co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Long-term follow-up - This helps a person stay sober. This can be in the form of an AA or NA meeting, or something similar.

Services that UC Health offers for substance use disorders

UC Health Psychiatry offers many services and programs to help our patients with recovery. Many of those services include:

• Behavioral Counseling - Our experienced providers use state-of-the-art, evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders. We are staffed by a team of addiction researchers, clinicians, and educators. We understand that substance dependence is a chronic, treatable medical disease that affects both brain and behavior. By providing thorough assessment, an individualized treatment plan, and evidence-based treatment strategies, our well-trained clinicians offer help that is based in sound, scientific principles.
• Opioid Treatment Program - According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, estimates 8.9 million Americans currently suffer from opioid dependence. Methadone treatment has been used for over 30 years to safely and effectively treat opioid dependence. The experienced physicians, nurses, and counselors at the UC Health Addiction Sciences Opioid Treatment Program provide methadone services 6 days a week, combining both pharmacologic and behavioral treatment approaches to facilitate recovery.
• ·Medically managed treatment - New knowledge and research discoveries have provided addiction treatment clinicians with a variety of effective medications for treating substance use disorders, particularly for opioids, alcohol, and tobacco. Our Outpatient Treatment Services utilize a medical approach to treatment, employing evidence-based treatment strategies that include use of these effective medications whenever possible.
• Addiction research - Researchers at UC Health are nationally recognized as experts in designing, leading, and performing clinical trials to develop new treatments and improve existing treatment strategies for substance use disorders. Part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Clinical Trials Network, our researchers have been conducting trials locally and nationally since 1997. Our patients are frequently invited to participate in local clinical trials and are among the first in the world to benefit from new treatment strategies that are proven effective.

Compassionate care for better outcomes

At UC Health, substance use disorder is more than a diagnosis: it’s a call to action. No matter your role or relationship, we offer a network of support built on evidence-based care and genuine compassion. From groundbreaking research to personalized treatment plans, we’re changing both lives and perceptions. This Mental Health Month, we stand by our belief: recovery is real, and no one should face it alone.