Education & Understanding

Reliable information can help reduce stigma, recognize when someone may need support, and make it easier to understand treatment and recovery. The resources below provide evidence-based information about alcohol and drug use, substance use disorders, prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Understanding Substance Use & Addiction

What Is a Substance Use Disorder? A substance use disorder is a health condition involving a problematic pattern of alcohol or drug use that can affect a person’s health, relationships, responsibilities, safety, and everyday life.

Substance use disorders can range from mild to severe. Genetics, environment, mental and physical health, life experiences, age of first use, and other factors can influence a person’s risk.

Substance use disorders are treatable, and recovery is possible.

NIDA – The Science of Addiction

The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides evidence-based information about how drugs can affect the brain, why addiction can develop, risk and protective factors, treatment, and recovery.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIAAA provides research-based information about alcohol use, alcohol use disorder, treatment, and recovery.

How Do I Know When It’s Time to Seek Help?

Changes related to substance use can look different from person to person. Possible signs that alcohol or drug use may be becoming a problem can include:

  • Difficulty controlling how much or how often someone uses

  • Continuing to use despite problems at home, work, school, or in relationships

  • Spending increasing amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from substances

  • Giving up activities that were once important

  • Using substances in unsafe situations

  • Developing tolerance or experiencing withdrawal

  • Wanting to cut down or stop but having difficulty doing so

  • Continuing to use despite physical or mental health problems

Having one of these experiences does not automatically mean someone has a substance use disorder. A qualified healthcare or substance-use professional can complete an assessment and help determine whether treatment or additional support may be helpful.

How to Choose a Quality Treatment Program

Finding treatment can feel overwhelming, and not every treatment program offers the same quality of care.

When considering a provider, it can help to ask:

  • Is the program appropriately licensed?

  • Will I receive a comprehensive assessment?

  • Will treatment be individualized to my needs?

  • Does the program use evidence-based treatment?

  • Are qualified medical and behavioral health professionals involved?

  • Are medications for substance use disorders available or supported when appropriate?

  • Can the program address mental health conditions alongside substance use?

  • How does the program support continuing recovery after treatment?

  • What will treatment cost, and what insurance or financial assistance is accepted?

NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator

NIAAA provides a step-by-step guide to finding evidence-based alcohol treatment and evaluating treatment providers.

Youth Substance Use Prevention

Parents, caregivers, schools, and communities can all play a role in helping young people make informed decisions about alcohol and other drugs. Prevention isn’t only about telling young people not to use substances. Strong relationships, accurate information, mental health support, healthy coping skills, supportive schools and communities, and early identification of concerns can all be important.

Montgomery County Drug & Alcohol Prevention Programs

Montgomery County Student Assistance Program

Student Assistance Programs help schools identify and support students who may be experiencing barriers to learning, including concerns related to alcohol or other drug use and mental health.

Pennsylvania Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP)

Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs provides information about substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, overdose prevention, naloxone, recovery housing, and other programs throughout Pennsylvania.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA provides federal information and resources related to substance use, mental health, treatment, prevention, and recovery.