Substance abuse is a serious health issue affecting young adults in America. In spite of the significant impact of addiction on individuals, their families, the healthcare system and economy, substance abuse is acutely undertreated. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there were 5.1 million young adults (aged 18-25) in the United States with a substance use disorder in 2018, but only 547,000 received any form of treatment during that year.
The statistics tell a story of a population in crisis with low access to appropriate medical and mental health care. One in 10 young adults has an alcohol use disorder and 1 in 7 young adults has a substance use disorder and in 2018, just 6.3% of the young adults who needed substance use treatment received care at a specialized addiction facility.
What causes addiction?
Addiction is not a lack of willpower. It is a complex disease that affects an individual’s brain function and behavior and is influenced by a number of factors including environment and genetics. Environmental factors include peer pressure, stress, socioeconomic status and personal history, such as abuse or neglect, and inherited traits can dictate whether, and how quickly, a person may develop an addiction once substance abuse has begun.
When abuse becomes addiction
Stanford Children’s Health says that people who become addicted to drugs or alcohol usually go through specific stages of abuse. It begins with experimentation, and in the case of teenagers, is in response to peer pressure. Experimentation can have serious consequences, with one in four high school students binge drinking and one third of all school children in the United States having used an illicit drug.
Drug and alcohol experimentation can progress to regular use, such as on weekends, to dependence, and finally, addiction. Addiction is a disease that causes physical and psychological changes in a person and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
Where can I look for help?
If your young adult is using or abusing drugs or alcohol, it’s important to seek help. If the problem has reached serious levels, your family physician will be able to recommend a specialized treatment facility. If you’ve caught the abuse in its early stages, there are other options available. Psychotherapy plays an important role in addressing substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that behavioral approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), help engage people in treatment, providing incentives for remaining abstinent, and helping increase their life skills to handle stressful circumstances and environmental cues that may trigger a relapse into substance abuse.
How is psychotherapy useful?
Psychotherapy, including behavioral therapies and individual or family therapy sessions, is the most common form of treatment for substance abuse disorder and addiction. For treatment to be effective, it must be individualized to take into account a person’s journey, but also to ensure that other mental illnesses that commonly co-occur with substance abuse are diagnosed and treated.
Family therapy has demonstrated positive results in both adolescents and adults and addresses substance abuse along with problems in the home, such as conduct disorders, child abuse, depression, family dysfunction and unemployment. This type of therapy teaches family members strategies and new skills to apply at home, reviewing goals regularly and rewarding family members when those goals are met. For some young people, family therapy is more effective than individual counselling sessions.
Family Relations Intervention
We have deep experience in working with individuals and families navigating substance abuse disorder. Psychotherapist, Brad Jaffe, spent time working for Project Renewal, providing outpatient counselling to homeless men entering drug and alcohol recovery and providing mental health services to support some of New York City’s most vulnerable residents.
We specialize in empowering families who find themselves in crisis. Call us today to talk about how we can guide your recovery and healing.