What does the SAMHSA National Helpline do?

It is a free, confidential treatment referral and information service open 24/7, 365 days a year, at 1-800-662-4357. Specialists connect you with local treatment, support groups and community organizations. It doesn't provide counseling itself, and it won't ask for personal information.

Does relapse mean treatment didn't work?

No. NIDA says relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to those for other chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and asthma. A relapse means it's time to talk with a provider about resuming or changing treatment, not to give up.

How can I help a family member who won't admit they have a problem?

Stay connected and speak calmly about specific things you've seen and how they affect you. Avoid shaming or lecturing. Get support for yourself, learn about treatment options, and be ready to help when they are open to it.

Can a teenager have a substance use disorder?

Yes. In 2025, about 7.4% of U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 17 (about 1.9 million) had a past-year substance use disorder, according to SAMHSA. Using at a young age raises the risk, so early, caring conversations really matter.

Is it wrong for a Christian to take medication for addiction?

No. Medication prescribed and monitored by a doctor, alongside counseling, is a proven part of treatment for some substance use disorders. Using good medical care is not a lack of faith; it is part of caring for the body and life God gave you.

Is it dangerous to quit suddenly?

For some substances, stopping suddenly can be medically dangerous. Talk with a doctor or call the SAMHSA National Helpline before stopping, so you can do it safely with the right support.

Substance use and addiction: signs, causes, and the road to recovery

Q: Is addiction a choice or a disease?

The first use is often a choice, but NIDA describes addiction as a chronic, relapsing disorder that changes brain circuits involved in reward, stress and self-control. Those changes make stopping very hard. That's why addiction is treated as a health condition, not a lack of willpower.

Signs at a glance

Using more, or for longer, than intended
Wanting to cut down but not being able to
Strong cravings or urges to use
Falling behind at work, school or home because of use
Keeping on using even when it hurts relationships or health
Giving up activities you used to enjoy
Needing more to feel the same effect
Feeling sick or unsettled when not using
Hiding or lying about use

Everyone has some of these sometimes. What matters is how long they last, how strong they are, and whether they get in the way of daily life. Only a doctor or licensed counselor can diagnose. If you're worried, that's reason enough to ask.

Maybe it started as a way to relax, to fit in, to numb pain or to get through a hard season. Maybe now it feels like it’s running your life, or the life of someone you love. Addiction carries a lot of shame, especially in church. But shame doesn’t heal anyone. The truth is that addiction is a health condition, it can be treated, and people recover every day.

If you need help finding treatment, call the free, confidential SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It’s open 24/7, 365 days a year, in English and Spanish.

What is a substance use disorder?

A substance use disorder (SUD) is when someone keeps using alcohol or other drugs even though it causes real problems in their health, relationships, work or school. “Addiction” usually describes the more severe end of it.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” Over time, substance use changes brain circuits involved in reward, stress and self-control, and those changes can last long after someone stops. That is why “just stop” is so hard, and why willpower alone usually isn’t enough.

What does addiction feel like?

People often describe a pull that keeps getting stronger: cravings that crowd out other thoughts, promising themselves “just this once” and then using more than planned, and feeling unwell or on edge without it. Many feel deep shame and hide how much they’re using. Life slowly narrows. Hobbies, friendships and responsibilities fall away.

For families, it can feel like losing someone who is still in the room: worry, broken trust, anger and grief all at once.

How common is substance use disorder?

It is very common, and far more people need help than get it. According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2025):

15.3% of people aged 12 or older in the U.S., about 44.6 million people, had a substance use disorder in the past year.
About 25.7 million (8.9%) had an alcohol use disorder, and about 26.0 million (8.9%) had a drug use disorder. Some people had both.
About 7.4% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (around 1.9 million) had a substance use disorder.
Among people who needed substance use treatment, only about 1 in 6 received it.

If you’re struggling, you are far from alone. And there is room for many more people in treatment.

What causes addiction?

NIDA says no single factor determines whether a person becomes addicted. Several things raise or lower risk:

Genes. Genes and how they’re expressed account for an estimated 40 to 60 percent of a person’s risk.
Starting young. Using during the teen years, while the brain is still developing, raises risk.
Mental health. Depression, anxiety, trauma and other conditions often go hand in hand with substance use.
Environment. Family substance use, peer pressure, stress and trouble at school all play a part.

Protective factors matter too: supportive parents, connection to school and community, and confidence in your own ability to cope. Addiction is not proof that someone is a bad person or a bad parent.

How is addiction treated?

NIDA is clear: “addiction is a treatable disorder.” Treatment is not a one-time fix but a way of managing a chronic condition, like heart disease or asthma. It can include:

Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management, which help people manage triggers, build new habits and stay in treatment.
Medication, for some substance use disorders, prescribed and monitored by a doctor, usually alongside counseling. For opioid addiction, NIDA says medication should be the first line of treatment.
Medical support when stopping. Stopping some substances suddenly can be dangerous, so talk with a doctor first.
Recovery support, such as support groups, peer recovery coaches, and faith communities.

Relapse is not failure. NIDA reports that relapse rates for substance use disorders (40 to 60 percent) are similar to those for high blood pressure and asthma. A relapse means it’s time to resume or adjust treatment.

SAMHSA describes recovery as “highly personal” and happening “via many pathways,” including clinical treatment, medication, faith-based approaches, and peer and family support. It names four parts of a life in recovery: health, home, purpose and community.

How can I support someone struggling with addiction?

Lead with love, not lectures. Shame tends to push people further into hiding.
Be specific and calm. Talk about what you’ve seen and how it affects you, at a time when they aren’t using.
Learn the options so you’re ready when they’re open to help. The SAMHSA National Helpline and FindTreatment.gov can point you to local care.
Set healthy boundaries. Loving someone doesn’t mean protecting them from every consequence.
Find support for yourself. Families need care, too.

When should you get help right away?

Call 911 right away if someone is unresponsive, can’t be woken, is breathing very slowly or not at all, or seems to be having an overdose. If someone talks about suicide or not wanting to live, call or text 988. Our Get help now page lists more options.

Faith and addiction

Many churches have quietly treated addiction as a sin to be confessed and then simply stopped. But addiction is also an illness that changes the brain, and people need real treatment, not just resolve. Faith doesn’t replace that care. It walks beside it, offering forgiveness for the past, hope for the future, and a community to come home to.

If you’ve slipped again, God is not done with you:

“It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22-23 (WEB)

Churches can be places where recovery is welcomed, not whispered about. Drive someone to an appointment. Sit with a family in the waiting room. Make room at the table for people in recovery.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (WEB)