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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where do I go for help if I'm in crisis?

Call 911 in cases of emergency or call the Utah Crisis Line at (801) 587-3000

2. Where can I get help if I'm not in a crisis?

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Find Help & Treatment page: SAMSHA or call (800) 662-HELP (4357)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Alcohol Treatment Navigator: NIAAA
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, How to Quit Smoking: CDC Quit Line
  • Struggling with Addiction? Tips on Finding Quality Treatment: TIPS
  • Check out our resource page for more local resources. 

3. What is an interdisciplinary/interprofessional approach to addiction clinical care?

Clinical care for patients with addictions is increasingly interdisciplinary and interprofessional. As an example of interdisciplinary addiction clinical care, in 2016 the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved Addiction Medicine as a medical specialty allowing all physician disciplines (e.g., internal medicine, OB/GYNE, family practice, pediatrics) to be trained and credentialed in Addiction Medicine. Prior to this, only addiction psychiatrists were able to practice as an addiction specialty. Thus, the ABMS recognition provided an opportunity for all medicine disciplines to participate in addiction clinical care, as specialists.

4. What if I have been denied coverage, reached a limit on my plan (such as copayments, deductibles, yearly visits, etc.) or have an overly large copay or deductible?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides resources to help answer questions about protections under federal parity laws. Parity laws require insurers to provide comparable coverage for mental health, substance use disorder, and physical health care so people can get the treatment they need.

5. Where can I get statistics on drug use and overdose?

National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other agencies track trends in drug use through various surveys and data collection systems.  Annually, NIDA supports the collection of data on drug use patterns among secondary school students and young adults through the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey. 

NIDA also supports the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), a network of researchers who monitor drug use patterns in maor metropolitan areas across the Nation and in the regional "hot spots," such as within and across border cities and areas.  You can also find statistics on durg use from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Visit the NIDA Overdose Death Rates webpage for statistics on drug overdose deaths, compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CDC Wonder database.

6. What are the costs of drug use to society?

Drug use costs the United States economy more that $700 billion annually in increased health care costs, crime, and lost productivity.

Economic impact is only one facet of drug-related costs to society, which include:

  • The spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C either through sharing of drug paraphernalia or unprotected sex.
  • Deaths due to overdose or other complications from drug use.
  • Effects on unborn children of pregnant women who use drugs.
  • Crime, unemployment, domestic abuse, family dissolution, and homelessness.

7. What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is the most severe form of a substance sue disorder (SUD).  An SUD develops when a person's continued use of alcohol and/or drugs causes significant issues, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.  An SUD can range from mild to severe.

Addiction is a complex, chronic brain disease characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use that persists even in the face of devastating life consequences.  Addiction results largely from brain changes that stem from prolonged drug use--changes that involve multiple brain circuits, including those responsible for governing self-control and other behaviors.  Drug addiction is treatable, often with medications (for some addictions) combined with behavioral therapies.  However, relapse is common and can happen even after long periods of abstinence, underscoring the need for long-term support and care.  Relapse does not signify treatment failure, but rather should prompt treatment re-engagement or modification.