CT Clearinghouse

Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and adjusted based on patient response. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs.

Source: NIDA. 2018, June 6. Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction on July 12, 2024.

Help is Available.

  • In Connecticut, call 1-800-563-4086.
  • In the United States, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit findtreatment.gov.

Research & Data

  • Connecticut Data Collaborative

    Users may search by location or topic. Topic selections include: Civic vitality, Demographics, Economy, Health, Education, Housing, and Safety. The Health category includes data sets on mental health, treatment admissions, substance use, mortality, and tobacco use.

  • NIDA Research Topics

    This publication covers drug abuse research in the areas of treatment and prevention, epidemiology, neuroscience, behavioral science, health services, and AIDS. The publication reports on research; identifies resources; and promotes communication among clinicians, researchers, administrators, policymakers, and the public.

  • PubMed

    PubMed comprises more than 20 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher websites.

  • Research Data, Measures & Resources - NIDA

    Links to various NIDA publications, databases, surveillance, prevention & treatment resources, and more.

  • SAMHSA Data

    Find data and reports on mental health, substance use treatment, and drug use from sources that include: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), National Mental Health Services Survey (NMHSS), and more.

  • The Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System

    The Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System is a prescription drug abuse, misuse and diversion surveillance system that collects timely product-and geographically-specific data.

Screening Tools

Self-Help Groups

Apps

  • Inspirations from Hazelden

    A collection of daily readings to inspire and encourage you on your recovery journey.

    App Store Google Play

  • NORA App

    NORA is a free app from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Use NORA to prevent, treat, and report opioid overdose.

    Learn More

  • Smart Recovery Mobile App

    The tools, support, and resources you need right at your fingertips.
    Learn More

  • Sober Living

    A FREE personal recovery record that can help track and share your journey of recovery. Designed for iPad.
    App Store

Locate a Treatment Facility

Videos

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Trainings

Fact Sheets

Curricula & Lesson Plans

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