Addiction Resources

Webster’s Dictionary defines addiction as  “a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence”. Addiction manifests as chronic compulsive behavior or substance use despite their harmful consequences to the individual, their loved ones and society. Today significant strides are being made to understand the pathology of addiction, to improve care and reduce relapse. Thankfully there are a number of effective treatments and resources available for people to recover and lead normal, productive lives. 

When most people think of addiction, they think of substance abuse; however, addiction can occur in many forms. The types of addiction include: 

  • Substance - Alcohol, Drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin etc), Prescription Medications (opioids, CNS depressants/stimulants)

  • Behavior/Activity - Gambling, Shopping, Sex/Love, Video Games, Internet, Social Media, Pornography, Food, Work, Exercise  


Gambling addiction is the only non-substance addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM). However, that ruling is still debated while other addictions, like sex and shopping addiction, have not been recognized as biological addictions.

Addiction can affect anyone. It is one of the most complex and costly neuropsychiatric disorders affecting millions of Americans. Genetics, environmental issues, trauma, age of first exposure, and other medical conditions affect whether someone becomes addicted. They also impact how well they respond to treatment. 

Basic statistics of substance addiction: 

  • Total number of people in the US with a substance use disorder in 2017: 19.7 million

  • Number of those in treatment for substance use disorder in 2017: 1.4 million

  • 992,000 adolescents (4% of 12-17 year olds) suffer from substance use disorders in the US

  • The highest percentage of people dealing with substance abuse disorders are between the ages of 18-25 at 14.8% of their population in 2017. This population is also the most likely to use addictive drugs.

  • The most common substance use disorders of the population were alcohol use disorders which accounted for 3.4 million young adults (10% of this age range). After that, marijuana and prescription drug disorders were the next most common. 

  • Substance use disorders were more common in men (8.7%) than women (4.2%), 

  • Drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990. From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 Americans died from overdosing on a drug.

  • In 2017, 34.2 million Americans committed DUI, 21.4 million under the influence of alcohol and 12.8 million under the influence of drugs.

  • About 20% of Americans who have depression or an anxiety disorder also have a substance use disorder.

Behavioral Addiction Statistics: 

  • Gambling addiction may impact about 2-3% of the population and 25% of those with gambling addictions are women

  • An estimated 10% of young people who play video games develop an addiction to the activity. Withdrawal symptoms amongst this group include anger, cold sweats, migraines and sometimes death.  

  • Between 3–6% of the general U.S. adult population is affected by hypersexual disorders. 87% of people with sex addiction come from dysfunctional family backgrounds and 43% also have a substance addiction

  • Almost 18% of social media users experience addiction and young, single females are the most likely to live with this type of addiction.

 An article from Psychology Today shares several key behavioral patterns associated with addiction:

  • Unsuccessful attempts to quit

  • Cue-triggered relapse

  • Loss of control 

  • Desire without pleasure

  • Staying vigilant (being aware of the environment to reduce the probability of encountering triggering cues) 

  • Cross-addictions (substituting one compulsion for another)

  • Self-medication (to deal with emotional deficits) 

  • Genetic vulnerability 

  • Abuser to addict (extension of loss of control) 

  • Addiction is not limited to substance abuse 

Addiction Treatment includes: 

  • Detoxification with trained medical staff tapering amounts of the substance or its medical alternative to wean a person off and lessen the effects of withdrawal.

  • Inpatient Rehabilitation where they can receive continued medical and mental health care 24/7 with therapy, support, medication and health services to treat the substance use disorder and its underlying causes. 

  • Psychotherapy, in particular, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people with dual diagnosis learn how to cope and change ineffective patterns of thinking.

  • Medications to help people experiencing substance use disorders ease withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process. 

  • Supportive Housing, like group homes or sober houses, that can help people who are newly sober or trying to avoid relapse. Sober homes have been criticized for offering varying levels of quality care because licensed professionals do not typically run them.

  • Self-Help and Support Groups can help make the process easier for new members to deal with challenges and gain friendly support and healthy encouragement.

Local Resources:

Drogadictos Anonimos: Corona Self Help Center - 718-507-7459 - www.daamerica.org 

Based on the 12 step program, DA was founded in Mexico City in 1982 and became a non-profit organization around 1999. They are a 24/7 service that provides social support and housing to those with substance or behavioral addictions. This is where one would come if nothing else worked and they’ve practically reached rock bottom.

  • Medical treatments or detoxification treatments are not included. Members will need to seek medical treatments outside of the facility. The staff is able to assist finding treatment facilities if needed. 

  • Members can stay as long as they are willing to recover. After 90 days they have a choice of going back to society or they get help finding work and other necessities while they live in the facility. 

  • Meetings are all day (90mins long with 30 min breaks) ending around 11pm.  

  • Meetings are led by those in recovery and certified facilitators. One-on-one meetings are between a sponsor and member.

  • Membership is offered to any male regardless of ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status. 

Locations: 

  • New York: 3 Facilities - Queens, Staten Island, Upstate NY

  • Florida: 3 Facilities

  • Colorado: 1 Facility

Services/Benefits offered: 

  • Group and one-on-one Meetings

  • 24/7 on-site staff and peers 

  • Free room and board for at least 3 months 

  • Community outreach program 

  • Vocational and leadership development program

  • Recovery-supportive social network

  • Assistance with transitional supportive housing for independent living

  • Continued access to the benefits of the continuum of care offered at DA

Requirements for membership: 

  • COVID test

  • No insurance needed

  • Legal issues/court issues are addressed (probation etc)

  • Medical history is collected (they cannot help those who need medical attention)

  • Men only 

Common age groups: Varies season to season, but in the last year they have seen 18-25 and 35-50 years old.


Mount Sinai Addiction Institute - 212-256-2623 - https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/addiction-institute 

The Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai (AIMS) provides services throughout New York City. 

Locations: 

  • Mount Sinai Morningside - West Harlem and Morningside Heights

  • Mount Sinai West - Midtown and the West Side of Manhattan

  • Mount Sinai Beth Israel - Lower East Side of Manhattan 

  • The Mount Sinai Hospital - Upper East side of Manhattan 

Services Offered: 

  • Pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and group therapy

  • Inpatient Detoxification (if medically necessary) 

  • Free COVID19 testing to all patients prior to admission

  • Outpatient addiction treatment (including buprenorphine and other medications) via both telemedicine and in-person visits. There is currently no in-person outpatient group therapy, but conference calls are available to provide this service

  • All forms of outpatient medication-assisted therapy for substance use disorders

  • A team of highly trained psychiatrists, psychologists, physician assistants, social workers, nurses, and counselors are on staff

  • Adolescent and Young Adult Education Programs (CARE program) 

  • Harm reduction program for those living with Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS (REACH program) 

  • Veteran services 


National Resources:

SAMHSA: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration - 1-800-662-HELP (4357) - https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator.html

  • Resources for Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders

  • Facility Locator 

  • National Helpline –  free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.


NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - 1-800-950-NAMI - https://www.nami.org/home 

NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. For 40 years, NAMI has been a diverse, inclusive and supportive organization that provides equal opportunity for employment, participation and advancement in all programs and worksites. NAMI’s website is also useful in that they include publications and reports for EIP’s, a resource library, opportunities for involvement and advocacy, as well as support and information for families and individuals. The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public.

The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET. or info@nami.org 

 

Online Therapy - (800) 258-9936 - https://www.onlinetherapy.com/

Online Therapy is a Seattle-based organization that has plenty of various resources for therapy and strives to help people better understand addiction. They break down how to talk about addiction, assist a loved one with getting professional help, and offer support throughout the process, including through recovery.

You can view it here: https://www.onlinetherapy.com/addiction-counseling/family-resource/

References

American Addiction Centers. (2020, February 3). What is process addiction & types of addictive behaviors?. Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/behavioral-addictions 

 

Drogadictos Anónimos. (n.d.). DA America – Drogadictos Anónimos USA. Retrieved from https://www.daamerica.org/ 

 

Grant, J. E., Potenza, M. N., Weinstein, A., & Gorelick, D. A. (2010). Introduction to behavioral addictions. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 233-241. doi:10.3109/00952990.2010.491884 

 

Heshmat, S. (2017, February 22). 10 patterns of addictive behavior. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201702/10-patterns-addictive-behavior 

 

Mount Sinai. (n.d.). Addiction institute | Mount Sinai - New York. Retrieved from https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/addiction-institute 

 

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020, May). Substance use disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Substance-Use-Disorders 

 

Raypole, C. (2020, February 28). Types of addiction and how they're treated. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-addiction#chemical 

 

The Recovery Village. (2020, January 28). Process addiction statistics. Retrieved from https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/process-addiction/related/behavioral-addiction-statistics/ 

 

SAMHSA. (n.d.). State Facility Locator. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/ 

 

What is addiction? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction 

 

Yerby, N. (2020, July 9). Addiction statistics. Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/

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