Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a medical condition in which a person keeps using alcohol, drugs, or certain prescription medications even though that use is causing problems. It ranges from mild to severe. It can involve alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, sedatives, or nicotine. Over time, repeated use changes the brain’s reward and stress systems, which is why stopping often takes more than willpower alone.

SUD affects people from every background and profession, including people who seem to be managing well on the outside. Many wait years before reaching out because of stigma or the belief that they need to “hit rock bottom” first. In reality, getting support earlier tends to lead to better outcomes. A conversation with a psychiatric provider can help you understand where you stand, without pressure or judgment.

Substance use rarely happens in isolation. Many people begin drinking or using to quiet anxiety, numb painful memories, manage sleep problems, or cope with depression. Over time, the substance can make those same symptoms worse, creating a cycle that is hard to break on your own.

This overlap is often called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. It is common in people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Treating only one side of the problem often leads to relapse. Because our team specializes in psychiatric care, we are well positioned to evaluate and treat both at the same time, so that recovery rests on a stable foundation.

Clinicians look at patterns over time rather than a single incident. Signs that use may have become a disorder include:

• Losing control over use: using more than intended, or trying to cut back without success.
• Cravings: strong urges to use, especially in certain places, moods, or social settings.
• Falling behind on responsibilities: missed work, slipping school performance, or neglected obligations at home.
• Continuing despite harm: using even as it strains relationships, health, finances, or mood.
• Tolerance and withdrawal: needing more to feel the same effect, or feeling shaky, anxious, or sick when use stops.

Two or more of these signs may point to a substance use disorder. A professional assessment clarifies how severe it is and which level of care fits your needs.

At Your Local Psychiatrist, our psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychotherapists work with each patient to build a plan that reflects their goals. For some, that means complete abstinence. For others, the first step is meaningfully reducing use. We meet patients where they are and adjust care as their needs change.

Care may include:

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation: a detailed review of substance use history, physical and mental health, and personal goals, to establish an accurate diagnosis and a starting point for care.
• Medication Support: when clinically appropriate, our providers may prescribe medications that reduce cravings or support recovery, such as naltrexone or acamprosate for alcohol use disorder, with close monitoring.
• Motivational Interviewing: a collaborative, nonjudgmental approach that helps patients explore their own reasons for change and strengthen their commitment to it.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Relapse Prevention: practical tools for recognizing triggers, managing cravings, handling high-risk situations, and planning how to respond to a slip.
• Treatment of Co-Occurring Conditions: integrated care for depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or other conditions that may drive substance use or be worsened by it.
• Family Involvement: with the patient’s consent, loved ones can join sessions to rebuild trust and learn how to offer support effectively.
• Coordination With Other Levels of Care: if a patient needs medically supervised detox, residential treatment, or an intensive outpatient program, we help connect them with those services and continue outpatient support afterward.

For many people, the hardest part of getting help is walking through the door. With telehealth, you don’t have to. All appointments at Your Local Psychiatrist take place online, so you can begin substance use disorder treatment privately from home, your car, or any quiet space. Patients across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the rest of New York State can connect with our team. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer with audio and video capabilities.

We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Healthfirst, Emblem Health, Fidelis Care, and many others.

If alcohol or drug use has started to affect your health, relationships, or peace of mind, you don’t have to wait until things get worse to ask for help. Our compassionate team offers confidential, judgment-free support designed around your life and your goals.

Call us at 718-307-1577 or schedule an appointment online to connect with a licensed mental health provider today.

If you or someone you are with is experiencing an overdose or medical emergency, call 911 immediately. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.