Substance Use Recovery: Treatment Options & Education

Overview

Substance use disorders are treatable health conditions.

Substance use disorders change how the brain responds to reward, stress, and self-control. That is why stopping can be so difficult — and why willpower alone is often not enough. They are not a moral failing.

The good news is that treatment works for many people, and recovery is possible. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effective treatment addresses the whole person, may combine medication with behavioral therapy, and often continues over time.

Important safety information

Withdrawal can be medically dangerous.

If you suspect an overdose

Call 911 immediately.
If opioids may be involved and naloxone is available, give it and follow the package directions.
Keep the person breathing and on their side, and stay with them until help arrives.

Many states have Good Samaritan laws that offer some legal protection to people who call for help during an overdose.

Substances & concerns

Understanding common substances.

These brief descriptions are for general education. Any pattern of use that causes harm — to health, relationships, work, or safety — is worth discussing with a professional.

Alcohol
The most commonly used substance in the U.S. After heavy, regular drinking, stopping suddenly can cause seizures or delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening. Seek medical advice before stopping.
Opioids
Includes heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers. Illicit fentanyl has made overdose far more likely. Effective medications for opioid use disorder are available, and naloxone can reverse an overdose.
Prescription medications
Pain relievers, sedatives, and stimulants can be misused when taken differently than prescribed. Talk with the prescriber before changing or stopping any medication.
Benzodiazepines
Medications such as alprazolam, clonazepam, and diazepam. After regular use, stopping abruptly can cause seizures. They should be reduced only gradually, under medical supervision. Combining them with opioids or alcohol greatly increases overdose risk.
Stimulants
Includes prescription stimulants used other than as prescribed. Misuse can strain the heart and lead to anxiety, sleep problems, and in some cases psychosis.
Cocaine
Can cause heart attack, stroke, and seizures. Much of the illicit supply may be contaminated with fentanyl, raising the risk of overdose.
Methamphetamine
A powerful stimulant that can cause serious physical and mental health effects. Behavioral treatments, such as contingency management, have shown strong results.
Cannabis
Cannabis use disorder is a real, treatable condition. Today’s products are often far more potent than in the past, and heavy use can affect mood, motivation, and, for some people, increase the risk of psychosis.
Other substances
Inhalants, hallucinogens, kratom, sedatives, and new or mixed substances all carry risks. A clinician can help assess any pattern of use that is causing harm.

Who may benefit

This information is for you if…

You’ve tried to cut back or stop and found it harder than expected.
You need more of a substance to feel the same effect, or feel unwell without it.
Use is affecting your health, relationships, work, finances, or faith life.
You are worried about a loved one’s drinking or drug use.
You’re in recovery and want to strengthen your support.

Treatment & recovery pathways

Understanding levels of care.

Care for substance use disorders ranges from brief outpatient counseling to 24-hour medical supervision. Many people move between levels as their needs change.

Clinical assessment

The recommended first step.

What it is: A licensed clinician reviews substance use, physical and mental health, safety, and life circumstances to recommend an appropriate level of care.
Good to know: Many programs use the ASAM Criteria, a widely used national framework for matching people to levels of care.

Medically supervised withdrawal management

Often called medical detox.

What it is: Physicians and nurses monitor and treat withdrawal symptoms, often with medication, in a hospital, licensed facility, or — when safe — an outpatient setting.
Good to know: Withdrawal management is a starting point, not complete treatment. Planning the next step is essential.

Residential treatment

Living on-site at a licensed facility.

What it is: Around-the-clock structure with therapy, education, and support for a period of time.
When it helps: When a person needs a stable, substance-free setting and more support than outpatient care provides.

Partial hospitalization

Also called PHP or day treatment.

What it is: Intensive treatment for several hours a day, most days of the week, while living at home or in supportive housing.
When it helps: As a step down from residential care, or when more structure than outpatient care is needed.

Intensive outpatient program

Often called IOP.

What it is: Structured group and individual therapy several days a week for a few hours at a time.
When it helps: When a person can live safely at home but benefits from more than weekly sessions.

Outpatient counseling

Regular individual or group sessions.

What it is: Ongoing therapy with a licensed clinician, typically weekly or every other week.
When it helps: For milder concerns, or as continuing care after a more intensive program.

Medication for substance use disorders

Prescribed and monitored by a clinician.

What it is: FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) and alcohol use disorder (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram).
Good to know: Medication is most effective as part of a broader plan that includes counseling and support.

Peer recovery support

From people with lived experience.

What it is: Peer specialists, recovery coaches, and mutual-help groups that offer encouragement, accountability, and practical guidance.
Good to know: Peer support complements clinical care. It is not a substitute for medical treatment.

Continuing care & relapse prevention

Support that continues after a program ends.

What it is: Ongoing counseling, check-ins, recovery housing, groups, and a written plan for handling stress, triggers, and setbacks.
When it helps: Always. Recovery is often a long-term process, and continuing support helps sustain it.

The treatment approaches described on this page are explained for educational purposes. Their inclusion does not mean FaithHavens provides them. Ask any provider directly which services they are licensed to offer.

Know the difference

Comparing program types.

Programs with similar names can offer very different levels of medical and clinical care. Knowing the difference helps you choose safely.

Medical detoxification

Clinical · Medical staff

Who provides it: Hospitals and state-licensed facilities with physicians and nurses.
Appropriate when: There is a risk of serious withdrawal — especially from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or heavy long-term use.

Nonmedical withdrawal support

Supervised · No medical treatment

Who provides it: Some licensed programs offer a supportive, supervised setting without medical treatment.
Appropriate when: Only after a medical professional has determined that withdrawal risk is low.

Licensed residential treatment

Clinical · Live-in

Who provides it: State-licensed facilities with licensed clinical staff providing structured therapy.
Ask about: State license, accreditation, medical oversight, and how co-occurring mental health is treated.

Faith-based residential ministry

Spiritual · Often nonmedical

Who provides it: Churches and ministries offering a structured, faith-centered community living environment.
Ask about: Some states exempt or separately register faith-based programs, so they may not offer licensed clinical or medical care. Ask directly about licensing, medical oversight, and staff qualifications.

Licensed outpatient treatment

Clinical · Live at home

Who provides it: Licensed clinicians and programs (outpatient, IOP, PHP).
Appropriate when: A person is medically stable and has a safe place to live.

Peer & community recovery support

Non-clinical · Usually free

Who provides it: Mutual-help groups (such as AA, NA, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery), recovery community organizations, and peer specialists.
Appropriate when: At any stage, alongside professional care when it is needed.

Individualized care

Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process.

People differ in the substances they use, their health, their mental health, their families, their faith, and their circumstances. The right care for one person may not be right for another.

A thorough evaluation by a qualified professional is the best way to determine an appropriate level of care. Good programs adjust the plan over time — stepping care up or down as needs change — and address co-occurring mental health concerns at the same time.

The goal is not a perfect path. It is the next right step, with the right support.

Choosing well

Questions to ask any provider.

Is your program licensed by the state? May I see the license? Are you accredited?
What are the credentials of the staff who will provide care?
Do you provide medical care for withdrawal, or refer to someone who does?
Do you offer, or support people taking, FDA-approved medications for substance use disorders?
How do you assess and treat co-occurring mental health conditions?
How are families involved?
What will this cost, and what will insurance cover? Can I have that in writing?
What happens after the program ends?
Do you pay or receive any fee for referrals? (Ethical programs will answer this clearly.)

Getting started

How to take the first step.

Call the free, confidential SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for treatment referrals, 24/7.
Search FindTreatment.gov for state-licensed programs.
Talk with your primary care provider about a medical assessment.
Call the member services number on your insurance card to ask about behavioral health benefits.
Contact FaithHavens with questions about where to begin.

For families

When someone you love is struggling.

Watching someone you love struggle with substance use is painful. You may feel angry, afraid, guilty, or exhausted — sometimes all at once. Those feelings are normal.

Approaches such as CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) teach families to communicate in ways that can encourage a loved one toward treatment, while also caring for their own well-being. Family support groups like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon offer understanding from others who have been there.

Our Family & Caregiver Resources page offers more practical guidance.

Questions

Recovery questions.

Can I detox at home?

Please don’t attempt to stop alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives on your own after regular use — withdrawal from these can cause seizures and can be fatal. Even when withdrawal isn’t dangerous, it can be very hard to get through alone. A doctor can assess your risk and recommend the safest setting, which may sometimes be outpatient.

Is taking medication for opioid use disorder just “trading one drug for another”?

No. Medications such as buprenorphine and methadone are FDA-approved treatments that reduce cravings and withdrawal and lower the risk of overdose. National health agencies recognize them as effective, evidence-based care when prescribed and monitored by a qualified clinician.

What does it mean if someone relapses?

Relapse is common in recovery, as it is with many chronic health conditions. It does not mean treatment failed or that the person has failed. It is a signal to reconnect with support and revisit the plan. After a period of not using, tolerance drops, so a return to opioid use carries a much higher risk of overdose — keep naloxone available.

How can I tell if a treatment program is legitimate?

Verify the program’s state license, ask whether it is accredited, and be cautious of anyone offering free travel, housing, cash, or gifts to enroll — or who will not answer questions about costs, licensing, or staff credentials. FindTreatment.gov lists state-licensed facilities.

Sources

Recovery is possible, and there is more than one path.