It’s important to provide sufferers of addiction with the resources, education and clinical support needed to address their issues, and in turn, limit the risk of misuse or overdose.
Treatment for addiction addresses the root causes of the disease, including:
- Low self-esteem
- Anger
- Sadness/loss/grief
- Guilt/shame
- Abuse/trauma
- Neglect/loneliness
- Abandonment (emotional or physical)
- Avoidance
- Underlying issues or mental illness can vary in their relative importance compared to the substance use disorder itself, but often can be managed simultaneously or contiguously.