Substance use disorder causes, impacts, and solutions
Substance use disorder (SUD) is characterized by an individual's compulsive need to use drugs or alcohol, despite the social, occupational, and health consequences. SUDs not only disrupt the lives of those directly affected but also pose significant challenges to public health systems.
SUDs are a major area of focus in the current mental and behavioral health landscape due to their widespread impact. Millions of people currently struggle with SUDs in the United States, highlighting the need for effective interventions and solutions.
Addressing SUDs is essential not only for improving individual health outcomes, but also for fostering a healthier, more productive society.
On this page:
Understanding the substance use crisis
Root causes of substance use disorder
Demographic and societal impacts
Barriers to receiving treatment for substance use disorders
Evidence based treatment for substance use disorders
Case studies: Substance use disorder
Carelon’s approach to addressing substance use disorder
Understanding the substance use crisis
According to the 2023 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) substance use disorder statistics, 48.5 million (16.7%) Americans (aged 12 and older) battled an SUD, and 10.2% of Americans 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder in the past year.
Opioid abuse
Opioid abuse involves the misuse of prescription pain relievers, heroin, or synthetic opioids like fentanyl. These drugs are highly addictive and can quickly lead to dependence and overdose.
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse refers to the excessive or harmful consumption of alcohol that disrupts health, relationships, or responsibilities. It can lead to addiction, liver disease, and mental health issues.
Cannabis use
Cannabis use is the consumption of marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes. Frequent use, especially in youth, can impair memory, motivation, and increase the risk of dependency.
Root causes of substance use disorder
While individuals may experience SUDs for any number of reasons, key causes of substance use include:
- Genetics – a family history of substance use makes it more likely that an individual will develop an addiction or substance use disorder themselves
- Environment – exposure to substance use, sometimes intensified by socioeconomic challenges
- Trauma – experiences of abuse, stress, or neglect
- Mental health – co-occurring disorders like depression or anxiety
- Early use – initiating the use of drugs or alcohol at a young age
- Support systems – lack of familial or social supports
- Biology - brain chemistry and changes that make people more vulnerable to substance use
- Cultural norms – societal attitudes towards substance use
Demographic and societal impacts
SUDs can affect communities in significantly adverse ways. Impacts include increased medical costs due to heightened healthcare demands, and a reduction in workplace productivity due to absenteeism and lowered job performance. Additionally, SUDs strain families, causing emotional and financial burdens.
Who is most impacted by SUDs?
While SUDs have wide ranging effects on substance users, youth affected by loved ones experiencing SUDs may endure neglect and instability, which may impact their own health and development. Marginalized communities may face increased barriers when attempting to access treatment and healthcare, amplifying pre-existing social and economic disparities.
Social and economic costs
Substance use disorders disrupt families, and burden healthcare and social service systems, often leading to community instability. Economically, SUDs contribute to lost work productivity due to absenteeism and decreased job performance, increasing healthcare expenses.
Barriers to receiving treatment for substance use disorders
Individuals experiencing substance use disorders may endure challenges when trying to get the care they need, including the following:
- Stigma - societal judgment and misconceptions about addiction deter individuals from seeking help.
- Cost - high treatment costs and insufficient insurance coverage make access difficult for many.
- Limited availability - shortage of treatment facilities in some regions restricts access
- Long wait times to see a health care provider - extended delays in accessing services discourage timely treatment
- Lack of educational resources - insufficient awareness about available resources and treatment options
- Little support - lack of encouragement and understanding from employers and communities
Evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders
An effective substance use treatment plan is rooted in evidence-based practices that address the complex needs of individuals struggling with addiction. This approach often includes a combination of behavioral therapies, medication-assisted treatments, and comprehensive support systems tailored to each person's unique circumstances. By integrating these methods, health plans enhance recovery outcomes and promote long-term sobriety.
SUD programs that emphasize prevention, early intervention, and community-based support ultimately reduce the prevalence and impact that SUDs have on communities in general.
Early intervention and prevention
Early intervention involves recognizing the signs of excessive substance use at an early stage, before it develops into a full-blown disorder. This might include behavioral screenings, brief counseling, or referrals to treatment when early risk factors or mild use patterns are detected.
Prevention refers to efforts aimed at stopping substance use before it starts, often through education, awareness campaigns, and community-based programs. These initiatives help individuals, especially youth, make informed decisions and reduce exposure to risk factors like trauma, peer pressure, or environments where drug use is normalized.
There are many reasons why detecting SUDs in their early stages and implementing prevention strategies is crucial:
- Reduced health complications - identifying and addressing an SUD in its early stages can help prevent an individual from developing severe health issues. Early detection may also reduce any long-term physical and mental health consequences associated with prolonged substance use.
- Cost savings - early intervention can lead to significant cost savings by reducing the individual’s need for extensive medical treatments, hospitalizations, and other healthcare services associated with advanced addiction.
- Improved outcomes - prevention and early detection increase an individual’s chances of experiencing successful treatment outcomes, helping them recover more quickly and effectively maintaining their sobriety.
- Minimized social impact – early intervention helps communities reduce the social costs associated with substance misuse, such as family disruption, crime, and housing insecurity.
- Enhanced productivity - preventive measures can help maintain workforce productivity with early intervention, before substance use significantly affects an individual’s work performance and employment stability.
- Empowerment through education - prevention strategies, often involving education and awareness, empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions about substance use.
Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) are vital components of a comprehensive treatment strategy to combat drug addiction. Naloxone is an MOUD designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, effectively blocking and reversing the effects of opioid drugs. This action can quickly restore normal respiration in individuals whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to overdosing.
Case studies: substance use disorder
Carelon Behavioral Health’s programs have been very effective in helping individuals combat substance use disorders.
- The RISE program proactively addresses substance use, improving health outcomes and reducing costs through innovative case management and support strategies. Since the initiative’s launch in 2020, participants have experienced 39.5% fewer overdose incidents and a 27.5% decrease in inpatient admissions with SUD diagnoses.
- The naloxone vending machine program utilizes an evidence-based strategy to help mitigate opioid overdoses and deaths. The program installs machines throughout partner communities dispensing lifesaving medicine directly to the individuals who need it. The program achieved a 96% success rate in naloxone saving the lives of individuals experiencing an opioid overdose, and a 64% success rate in individuals avoiding a visit to an emergency room or hospital after having administered naloxone.
- The Changing Pathways program transforms the recovery process for opioid use disorder by utilizing peer support, which helps patients advocate for themselves. To date, program participants have experienced a 48% reduction in average number of withdrawal management episodes, a 58% reduction in average number of behavioral health emergency department visits, and a 79% reduction in the rate of overdose.
Carelon Behavioral Health’s approach to addressing substance use disorders
Carelon Behavioral Health believes in taking a public health approach to substance use and addressing SUDs. Our substance use disorder program includes connecting those at risk with experienced case managers and peer support specialists, as well as advanced analytics that allow us to proactively identify and connect with those at risk before their SUD worsens. We stay with individuals and their loved ones throughout the recovery journey to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Discover how Carelon’s effective SUD solution can help support your workforce and promote well-being.
