Substance abuse remains a significant issue in our society and is on the rise. According to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an average of 394,000 individuals aged 12 or older in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area use illicit drugs each year.
In 2022, the United States saw a significant rise in substance use disorders, with approximately 2.5 million more individuals affected compared to the previous year. This means that roughly one in six Americans, including both adults and teenagers, experienced some form of the said disorder during that time.
As this case of substance misuse continues to affect more people, it’s important to understand why this is happening. Let’s uncover the reasons behind the increase in drug abuse and how it’s affecting individuals and communities.
Understanding Substance Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a mental health issue that can deeply impact someone’s life. It involves struggling to control the use of different substances, whether they’re legal or illegal.
People with SUD might face a bunch of problems, like their physical health getting worse, feeling down or anxious, having trouble with family and friends, getting into legal trouble, or struggling at work or school.
Factors Contributing to the Rise in Substance Use Disorder
Addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or financial situation. Several factors can influence the chances and pace of developing an addiction, including:
Societal and Economic Stressors
In our daily lives, we face societal and economic stressors. Concerns about job security and financial stability are common, alongside challenges such as facing discrimination or difficulties accessing essential services like healthcare and support networks.
Dealing with these pressures can feel overwhelming, potentially leading to anxiety or feelings of hopelessness. In some cases, individuals might turn to substances like drugs or alcohol as a means to cope or temporarily escape from these distressing issues.
Accessibility and Availability of Substances
With advancements in technology and changes in drug policies, getting hold of drugs or alcohol has become easier than ever. You might notice how online platforms make it tempting to purchase substances with just a few clicks. It is also evident in how changes in laws have made certain drugs more socially acceptable and readily available.
These factors can make it harder for you to resist the urge to use substances, especially when they’re all around you.
Mental Health Issues
When you’re dealing with mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, or trauma, it’s common to feel overwhelmed and seek relief wherever you can find it. Sometimes, that might lead you to turn to drugs or alcohol to ease the pain or make the feelings go away, even if it’s just for a little while.
This reliance on substances to feel better can lead to such disorders because they’re using drugs or alcohol as a way to escape from their problems.
Influence of Media and Social Networks
The influence of media and social networks can impact you directly when it comes to SUD Social media and entertainment platforms often showcase substance use as cool or normal, especially among young adults like yourself.
Seeing posts, images, or videos that glamorize alcohol or drug use might make you feel like trying them yourself to fit in or have fun. With these messages everywhere online, it can be hard to avoid them, and they can affect how you view substance use.
Lack of Education and Prevention Programs
When there aren’t enough education and prevention programs about substance use, it becomes a big problem. You might not know all the risks of using drugs or alcohol, and there aren’t enough good programs to help you avoid them.
This lack of awareness can make it easier to fall into substance abuse without realizing the dangers. Bridging the gap between education and prevention is important for stopping substance abuse from getting worse.
Strategies to Address the Rise in Substance Use Disorder
Enhancing Prevention and Education
Improving prevention and education efforts is essential to tackling the increasing problem of substance misuse. This means developing comprehensive education programs tailored to different age groups and communities.
These programs should provide clear information about the risks linked to substance use and teach people how to make wise choices.
Improving Access to Treatment
It involves making addiction services more available and affordable to those in need. This includes implementing telehealth services for remote support and therapy sessions, as well as establishing community-based programs that offer counseling, rehabilitation, and support groups.
By expanding treatment options, individuals struggling with drug misuse have greater opportunities to seek help and get on their path to recovery.
Policy and Regulation Changes
This involves advocating for stricter regulations on the availability of substances, such as implementing laws to control the sale and distribution of alcohol and prescription medications.
Creating supportive policies that fund addiction treatment programs, improving access to mental health services, and promoting strategies to reduce harm also help.
Supporting Mental Health
To support mental health while tackling SUD, it means providing treatment that looks at both issues together. This might involve therapy sessions that focus on both addiction and any other mental health struggles you might have. Sometimes, medication can help with both problems at once.
One effective treatment option, called PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program), combines support for addiction and mental health issues. PHP treatment offers structured and intensive care during the day but lets you go home at night. It’s especially helpful for those who need focused treatment but don’t need 24/7 supervision.
Community and Family Support Systems
This means creating strong networks within communities and families to help people dealing with drug or substance misuse. These networks offer encouragement, guidance, and practical help to those trying to stay sober.
By having this support, individuals feel more motivated and empowered to seek help and stay committed to getting better. Family involvement is especially important because it provides stability and emotional support, making recovery easier.
Conclusion
Several factors, such as societal stressors, easy access to drugs, mental health issues, and media influence, are responsible for the rise in SUD cases. To address this trend, we must improve prevention and education efforts, as well as strengthen support systems.At Another Chance, we’re committed to exploring solutions and providing support to combat this growing issue. Together, we can work towards a healthier future. Join us today and take the first step towards recovery!
