What is Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
Substance use disorder is a treatable chronic disease characterized by uncontrollable, recurrent use of alcohol, drugs and other substances despite harmful physical, mental, and social consequences. It affects brain functions, leading to intense cravings, cognitive and behavioral issues. SUD often results in significant impairment, such as failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.
You can start by looking for red flags in 3 areas: behavioral, physical, and social.
-Behavioral: Secretive routines, unexplained absences, or risky choices to obtain substances
-Physical: Reddened eyes, chronic congestion, sudden weight change, or tremors
-Social: Withdrawing from family activities, dropping hobbies, missing work or school, and frequent money crises
How Can I Know If Me or My Loved One Has SUD?
To fill out the self-assessment, click the button and print.
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”
Kofi Anman
About Substance Use Disorder
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Local Statistics
Despite the opioid-related overdose and mortality crisis in South Carolina and throughout the country, opioid use disorder remains under diagnosed. Estimates suggest that as many as one-third of Americans with opioid use disorder have never been diagnosed with the condition. Without a diagnosis, the health care system misses important opportunities to offer treatment and other resources people need to achieve recovery from addiction
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State Statistics
In 2017, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a statewide public health emergency for the opioid epidemic and established the Opioid Emergency Response Team. The Governor's emergency declaration allows state officials, private partners, and law enforcement to combat the growing epidemic or opioid deaths, addiction, and abuse.
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National Statistics
Approximately 105,000 people died from drug overdose in 2023 and nearly 80,000 of those deaths involved opioids (about 76%).
