Below you will find information for members and their families about alcohol and drug use & addiction, its treatment, and self-care, as well as sources of additional information and support.

Articles

The articles listed below contain useful information.

Addictive Substances —
Substance use disorder is a chronic illness that can have devastating impact on people's social, work and family lives. Substance use disorder also coexists with many mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.

Avoiding Relapse —
Relapse refers to the process of returning to the use of alcohol or drugs after a period of abstinence. Relapse is a possibility for you regardless of how much time you have been sober.

Depression and Substance Use Disorder —
Depression is the most common behavioral health diagnosis in adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Approximately 18.8 million adults in the U.S have a depressive disorder in any given year.

Is Your Child Using? Spotting the Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use in Teenagers —
As a parent, you may be concerned about whether or not your child is experimenting with drugs or alcohol. It is difficult to know whether your child is abusing substances, or if he or she is just going through a period of normal adolescent adjustment.

Mutual Support Groups for Alcohol and Drug Abuse —
Mutual support (also called self-help) groups are an important part of recovery from substance use disorders. Mutual support groups exist both for persons with a substance abuse disorder and for their families or significant others and are one of the choices an individual has during the recovery process. This article will help you understand the effect of mutual support groups on recovery, become familiar with the different types of mutual support groups available, and make informed referrals to such groups.

Recognizing Substance Use and Dependency —
Addiction is a widespread problem. The American Society on Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestation. Substance abuse is characterized by continuous or periodic drug and/or alcohol use.

Troubled Teens: Substance Use —
Substance use disorder is a silent disease that plagues families across the country — including families of adolescent children.

Resources

These organizations can provide you with additional information about alcohol and drug abuse/addiction and its treatment. Talk with your clinician about other resources that may be available in your area.

National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Toll-free: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIAAA)
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
www.niaaa.nih.gov/

National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213
Bethesda, MD 20892-9561
Telephone: 301-443-1124
http://drugabuse.gov