Substance Use
Substance Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is when a person’s use of alcohol or other drugs leads to problems in their daily life. These problems can include health issues or problems at work, school, or home.
There are many resources available for those faced with alcohol, drug, or other dependencies. If you’d like to find treatment, FindTreatment.gov is a good resource to start with. Another great resource is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Click here to access the SAMHSA website.
What is Substance Use Disorder?
This video by Psych Hub describes what it means to have Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The “substance” in SUD refer to any substance or chemical that can change a person’s thinking or behavior. This means that the word “substance” includes alcohol, illegal drugs, and even drugs that have been prescribed by your doctor that you take against orders.
Need Help with your substance use? Call the SAMSAH Hotline now!
Call1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you are hard of hearing, call TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Resources for Help and Learning
Drug Disposal Sites are available to get rid of unwanted or unused medications to avoid opioid misuse. By safely disposing of your medications, you are preventing family and friends from possibly misusing prescriptions. You can dispose of your medications at any of the following resources’ locations. Make sure you scratch off all personal information on your prescription bottles before discarding. Locations include: Chicago Police Department Stations, CVS Pharmacy, University of Chicago DCAM Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy, and Well Future Pharmacy.
Medication-Assisted Treatment, also known as MAT, is when medication is combined with counseling to ease withdrawal symptoms and provide a whole-patient approach to treatment. The commonly used medications for treatment are Buprenorphine (Suboxone), Methadone, and Naltrexone.
Naloxone, also known by the name brand Narcan, is an easy to administer, lifesaving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid-related overdose. It comes in both injectable and nasal spray form. Naloxone is available over the counter, with no prescription necessary, at these major provider locations: The Chicago Recovery Alliance, CVS Pharmacy, Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, and Walgreens Pharmacy.