Through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic cases of substance abuse remained high.
In a new episode of Prescribed Listening, Dr. Tanvir Singh, a psychiatrist at UTMC, explains the difference between substance abuse and addiction and how you find support for, or support, a loved one struggling with drugs or alcohol.
Singh explained that substance abuse is different than addiction.
“That’s where most of the people get confused,” he said. “Addiction is a lack of control over your use. So, you could be a substance user but might not have an addiction. Actually, 85% of the users, they have not reached a point of addiction. With addiction, you only know when you try to stop using the substance.”
As stress levels remained at a higher level through the course of the pandemic, Singh said people who are more vulnerable to stress experienced more impulsive tendencies, an increase in a lack of judgment and were more likely to make mistakes. They then used substances to cope with the overwhelming stress that the pandemic brought on.
“Then we were hit with inflation after the pandemic, which creates huge stress levels. Again, especially with a more vulnerable population, people who have struggled in so many ways and then you add more stress,” he said.
The podcast episode also discusses how to support someone struggling with substance abuse or addiction, and how to have hard conversations about the use.
“Another thing which people need to understand is substance use is a very emotional experience,” Singh said. “There are emotions associated with it. When you drink or use a substance, it does cause very high emotions. And many people, they think of those emotions as very positive emotions too. So, it’s like a companion. And then that’s the reason the substance use causes more and more preoccupation because you develop this friend, which you create when you use.”
UTMC has programs available like the Functional Wellness Program at UTMC that provide support for those struggling to manage chronic pain without the use of drugs, and Recovery Services at UTMC and mental health services available through psychiatry.
To review the podcast’s entire library of episodes, go to the UTMC Prescribed Listening website.
New episodes of Prescribed Listening will be released through spring semester.
Subscribe to UTMC’s Prescribed Listening podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
