People begin using substances for many different reasons: some are responding to social pressures, others are thrill-seeking, or seeking symptom relief from unwanted emotions or physical pain. Continued use can often lead to substance use disorder.

Many people want to stop substance abuse, but find themselves unable to do so. For many, substance abuse has affected friendships, careers, and families, leaving them feeling trapped.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) affect 1 in 10 Americans. It is characterized by the continued use of harmful substances despite clear negative consequences. It is marked by an increased tolerance for the substance, continued use to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and an inability to stop using substances despite negative consequences.

SUDs can range in severity from mild to severe and can affect people of any race, sex, income level, or social class. A SUD can be applied to the following types of drugs: Alcohol, Cannabis, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Opioids (Prescription and Illegal), Sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics, Stimulants and Psychostimulants, Tobacco (nicotine), and Other (unknown) substances.

- Sudden weight loss
- Sudden emotional changes or mood swings
- Increased tolerance to a substance, requiring more of it for the same feeling
- Poor performance in work or school
- Hiding of substances
- Beginning substance use progressively earlier in the day
- Changes in social networks and friend groups
- Experience of withdrawal symptoms when a substance is not available
- Shirking commitments in order to abuse substances

Like many other chronic conditions, treatment is available for substance use disorders. While no single treatment method is right for everyone, recovery is possible, and help is available for patients with SUDs. Recovery may involve medication to help with cravings and withdrawal as well as different forms of therapy. It may even require checking into a rehabilitation facility.

Opioids, mainly illegally made fentanyl, are involved in the highest percentage of overdose deaths. Ways to prevent opioid overdose are to improve opioid prescribing, reduce exposure to opioids, prevent illegal opioid use and prescription opioid misuse, and treat opioid use disorder.