Substance Use Prevention

A Time for Awareness and Healing

October is Substance Use Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about substance use disorder, promoting preventative actions, and supporting those in recovery. At Visalia Recovery Center, we know firsthand the struggles and strength involved in overcoming addiction. We’re here to help families and communities understand this month’s importance and to remind everyone that prevention and recovery go hand in hand.

What is National Substance Use Prevention Month?

National Substance Use Prevention Month brings attention to substance abuse issues that affect individuals, families, and communities across the country. By focusing on prevention, we aim to reduce the onset of dependencies or addictions in the first place. Prevention can include educating youth, promoting mental health resources, and building supportive community environments. Destigmatizing addiction — breaking down the taboos that make it difficult to talk about, and affirming that struggling with addiction is normal — can also aid prevention by increasing awareness and helping people feel safe enough to ask for help.

During October, we are reminded that everyone plays a part in substance use prevention. Schools, parents, local organizations, and rehabilitation clinics like Visalia Recovery Center join forces to educate and support individuals at risk. By providing access to information, discussing the effects of substances, and explaining common risk factors for substance use disorder, we empower people to make informed choices.

Why Does Substance Use Prevention Matter?

Addiction can affect anyone—regardless of age, background, or personal circumstances. National Substance Use Prevention Month shines a light on the fact that substance abuse often starts as an experiment or a way to cope with stress, trauma, or mental health issues. People might turn to substances like alcohol, sedatives like Xanax, or stimulants like Adderall in an attempt to handle life’s challenges. However, these substances can lead to dependency, spiraling into a cycle that becomes increasingly hard to break.

Some substances, like fentanyl, are particularly dangerous. Those who become addicted to fentanyl face a high risk of overdose due to its potency. Prevention helps communities address the root causes and risks before they grow into bigger issues, ultimately saving lives and building resilience.

What Causes Addiction?

While anyone can develop a substance use disorder, there are a few risk factors that could make someone more likely to struggle with substance use. These include:

• Mental health: A person dealing with a mental health disorder like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might use drugs or alcohol as an unhealthy coping mechanism, leading to dependence and addiction. Even if someone hasn’t been diagnosed with one of these conditions, experiencing trauma due to violence, abuse, and other harmful events can also lead to substance use.
• Family history: You aren’t guaranteed to develop an addiction just because someone in your family has struggled with one. However, genes do play a role, and you may be more likely to experience substance use disorder if a close relative does too. 
• Chronic pain: Someone who is prescribed medication for ongoing pain, like Oxycontin, may develop a dependence that leads to increasingly risky drug use. Once someone has built up a tolerance to their prescribed dose, they may turn to illegal street drugs to manage their pain and growing addiction.
• Social relationships: A supportive community can help prevent substance use by offering safer ways for people to cope with hardships. On the other hand, spending time with friends who use substances can make someone more likely to get hooked. Challenging family and relationship dynamics can also increase someone’s chances of addiction. A family’s role in addiction is crucial: their support can be instrumental in recovery, while enablers or toxic family members can make healing more difficult.

Once someone starts repeatedly using drugs or alcohol, these addictive substances can physically change the brain. Over time, more and more of the drug is needed to feel high, and the brain doesn’t produce as many “happy chemicals”, like dopamine, on its own. This leads to unpleasant comedown and withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and difficulty focusing on anything other than getting more of the drug.

The good news is, recovery can rewire your brain, too. Unlike any other organ in your body, the brain is designed to transform itself. Neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change, is the reason we’re able to learn and adapt to new things. Just as your brain can be trained to rely on drugs and alcohol, it can also be trained to leave those things behind — and Visalia Recovery Center is here to help.

Finding Support for Recovery and Rehabilitation

Prevention is critical, but for those who are already struggling with addiction, recovery and rehabilitation are just as essential. Facilities like Visalia Recovery Center offer outpatient drug treatment  and family support to provide a safe and structured environment for healing. This month, we emphasize that support exists—whether it’s prevention for people who are at risk, or treatment for those on the path to recovery.

At Visalia Recovery Center, we believe in holistic care that addresses not just the addiction itself, but also the root causes. As a dual-diagnosis treatment center, we are equipped to help you overcome addiction and also learn to manage mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. The evidence-based therapy we provide is tailored to your unique journey, to help you overcome the individual challenges you face. Our family support programs can also help you improve and repair your personal relationships, fostering a supportive environment for healing.

Moving Forward Together

National Substance Use Prevention Month is a reminder that no one should feel alone in facing substance abuse or addiction. Resources and help are available, whether you are trying to prevent addiction or find ways to heal. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to Visalia Recovery Center or other supportive organizations. Our goal is to create a future where substance use is less likely to take root and where those affected can find compassion, support, and a path to recovery.

Let’s work together to create a community that understands, supports, and champions prevention and healing. If you’re struggling with addiction or looking for a Visalia rehab program, click here or call us at 559-702-5180 today.