Millions of people struggle with alcohol and drug use. Excessive drinking contributed to 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. adults under age 49 from 2015 to 2019. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, deaths related to alcohol and drug use have continued to rise.

Substance use disorders are diseases that affect a person’s brain and behavior. These disorders don’t discriminate — they can affect any of us. It’s nobody’s fault, and there’s no single cause. But the effects can be serious.

Fortunately, substance use disorders are treatable. There’s no single path to recovery that works for everyone — treatment is highly personal. Whether you’re seeking care for yourself or someone else, we’re here to help.

How to get help

Visit kp.org to find information and resources that can help you understand substance use disorders and learn about the treatment and recovery options available to you.

If you aren’t sure whether you need help, take a drug and alcohol self-assessment. A substance use disorder screening and other self-check and screening tools are available on the Find Your Words website.

If you’re a Kaiser Permanente member, you can find addiction medicine services near you. Our care teams can help you understand the risks, empower you to make informed choices about your health, and help you take whatever steps you’re ready to take.

For additional support, self-care tools to help manage stress and anxiety are available to Kaiser Permanente members at no cost.

More resources

For the families, friends, and loved ones of people struggling with alcohol or drugs, support groups are available from organizations such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.

The Partnership to End Addiction offers a teen substance use risk assessment that can help you take action to reduce the chances your child will use substances or experience problems with them.

What to do in a crisis

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, including thoughts of suicide, call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You’ll be connected directly to a crisis-trained counselor, and support is available 24/7. The lifeline can also be reached at its previous phone number: 1-800-273-8255.

If you or someone you know needs immediate emergency medical services for a mental health crisis, including thoughts of suicide, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Substance use disorders are a serious health problem; however, with the right treatment, recovery is possible.