Substance use resources
Substance use refers to the use of selected substances, including alcohol, tobacco products, drugs, inhalants or other substances that can be consumed, inhaled, injected or otherwise absorbed into the body. The use can result in dependence on the substances and other detrimental effects. Substance use refers to episodes of use rather than ongoing, habitual or patterned use.
Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. These illnesses are common, recurrent and often serious. Fortunately, they are treatable, and many people recover. Substance use disorder suggests alcohol or drug addiction, a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior. It may lead to inability to control the use of a legal or illegal substance.
Some research has found that mental illness may precede a substance use disorder, suggesting that better diagnosis of mental illness may help reduce the possibility of co-existing conditions. To find mental health treatment services in your area, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-663-HELP (4357), visit the SAMHSA online treatment locator or text your ZIP code to 435748. A number of additional resources are available through Center on Drug and Alcohol Research.
UK HealthCare supports all paths to recovery, using a person-centered approach.
University of Kentucky & UK HealthCare resources
- Behavioral Health: This program through the University Health Service is geared toward the unique stress and pressures college students face by offering care for new or pre-existing psychological conditions. Counseling for substance use disorder is available.
- First Bridge Clinic: Patients can receive immediate treatment for opioid use disorder at this clinic.
- Integrative Medicine & Health: This program focuses on the interaction of mind, body and spirit to treat the whole person. It combines complementary therapies and practices with healthcare expertise and traditional disciplines to foster health and healing.
- Interventional Pain Associates: The goal of this clinic is to provide comprehensive pain management for a variety of post-operative, acute, chronic and cancer-related pain. The focus is on assisting people with pain relief in a safe and effective way to prevent addiction and substance abuse.
- PATHways: This clinic is tailored to pregnant women seeking treatment for opioid and substance use disorders.
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: This program works with patients with severe neurological or musculoskeletal impairments to restore them to the highest possible level of function.
- Psychiatry: The providers of UK Psychiatry are trained to care for and treat a wide variety of conditions in both adolescents and adults.
- Supportive Medication Assisted Recovery Program (SMART): Patients can receive comprehensive outpatient treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. Services offered include medications for substance use disorders (including suboxone/sublocade), psychiatric treatment, group and individual psychotherapy, primary care, hepatitis C treatment, peer support, and case management.
- UK Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR): The center conducts research into the biological, psychological, sociopolitical and clinical aspects of substance use and related behavior.
- UK Counseling Center Alcohol and Drug Treatment: Staff psychologists are available to help students address lifestyle choices that may contribute to alcohol and drug use and any resulting problems.
- UK Counseling Center Tobacco Treatment: The center offers tobacco cessation services through individual counseling.
- UK HealthCare Opioid Stewardship Program: This office consists of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers working to reduce unnecessary opioid use and raise awareness within UK HealthCare and throughout Kentucky.
State & national resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This Addiction Medicine Toolkit is designed to provide an introductory overview of addiction medicine for clinicians.
- Find AA Meetings in Kentucky: AA helps individuals struggling with alcoholism find the help they need locally.
- Find Help Now KY: Use this website to find an addiction treatment facility that is taking new clients now.
- Find Recovery Housing Now: The purpose of this site is to link individuals in recovery to safe, quality and available recovery housing in Kentucky.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): This link includes information about medications for substance use disorders.
- Voices of Hope Lex: Voices of Hope helps people in recovery stay in recovery by providing no-cost recovery support services, conducting research, and educating and advocating for the community they serve.
UK HealthCare's 2025 strategic plan provides a road map for achieving our vision: One community committed to creating a healthier Kentucky. We are committed to positively impacting our community and our Commonwealth by understanding and responding to health needs through engagement, outreach and collaboration.