Getting Drug Addiction Help
If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs, there are resources available that may be able to help.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline provides free, confidential help 24/7 in English and Spanish to individuals and families dealing with drug addiction and other substance use disorders.
To contact SAMHSA, call 800-662-HELP or TTY 1-800-487-4889.
SAMHSA can help you locate drug addiction treatment near you and connect you to support groups and community-based organizations.
To find drug addiction treatment facilities near you, you can also use SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or send your zip code in a text message to 435748 (HELP4U).
You can search specifically for buprenorphine practitioners or opioid treatment programs, outpatient facilities, or telehealth therapy.
“Getting help is essential to recovery.”
– Cleveland Clinic
Some people addicted to dangerous drugs also find self-help groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) beneficial. You can use the NA website to find meetings throughout the U.S.
You can also talk to your medical provider or a mental health professional if you need help with a drug addiction but don’t know what to do.
For more drug addiction help, check out SAMHSA’s website. The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine has addiction resources geared toward teenagers and young adults, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has information on substance use treatment for veterans.
What Is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction — also called substance use disorder — is a persistent, debilitating disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior.
“Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.”
– National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Drug addiction is considered a mental health condition. A person addicted to dangerous drugs has a pattern of substance use that usually causes problems in their life. For example, they may be unable to keep a job or maintain relationships.
Three general characteristics of drug addiction are:
- An overpowering desire to use the drug
- Increased tolerance to the drug
- Withdrawal symptoms when use of the drug is stopped
- Young males are most at risk of substance use disorders.
- A class of drugs called opioids are responsible for the largest number of drug-related overdoses and deaths.
- More than 1,500 people in the U.S. die every week from some type of opioid.
- Since 2000, more than 1 million Americans have died of drug overdoses.
- U.S. military veterans are twice as likely as the general public to die from an opioid overdose.