Caring and Comprehensive Services for Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders are not the result of a moral failing or lack of willpower.  Misunderstandings about substance use disorders and how they affect the body and brain creates stigma that makes it hard for people to get the help they need. It also hampers people’s ability to provide effective support to friends and family members who are struggling with drugs or alcohol.

People typically start using substances to cope with overwhelming experiences such as trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, financial stress, or housing instability. Over time, substance use can become difficult to stop when the underlying struggles remain unresolved and the body or brain become dependent on the substance. Understanding how substance use disorders work can help you or your loved one to seek support and treatment without shame.

The Body and The Brain 

Physical dependence occurs when stopping the use of substances leads to intense physical withdrawal symptoms. For example, people experiencing opioid use withdrawal may have severe body aches, chills, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. Without support to manage these symptoms safely and comfortably, people may return to using opioids simply to stop feeling sick. 

Substances also affect the brain’s reward system by triggering the release of dopamine, a “feel good” chemical. Addiction occurs when people feel an intense psychological need to experience the substance’s effects: feeling calm, numbing emotional pain, or avoiding distressing feelings. Prolonged or excessive substance use can change the brain’s structure and chemistry, making the substance feel necessary for survival. This is why recovery requires more than willpower alone.  

Recovery rarely has a single solution. Because substances affect both the body and the brain, effective treatment requires interventions that provide support for the physical, emotional, and practical challenges that contribute to substance use. 

At community clinics like Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC), patients can access a range of services all in one place, including: 

• Care Coordinators who connect people with community resources to address issues such as housing, financial strain, employment, and other basic needs. 

• Therapists who help patients address the underlying reasons they started using substances. Through behavior-change strategies, they help people develop healthier coping strategies, and work through feelings of guilt, shame, trauma, or stress. 

• Psychiatrists and medical providers who help patients manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and support long-term recovery. For patients with opioid use disorder, providers may prescribe medications such as Suboxone, available in daily or long-acting injectable forms. Providers can also treat underlying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD that may contribute to substance use.

CUHCC also offers dental care, which can be an important need for people experiencing long-term substance use. Together, these providers collaborate on care plans so patients can focus on recovery instead of travelling between multiple clinics and navigating their systems. 

CUHCC serves everyone regardless of their ability to pay. With support from Patient Financial Advocates, patients can apply for a discount program that reduces the cost of care depending on family size and income and apply for health insurance.

Located on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis, CUHCC offers same-day and walk-in appointments. People seeking substance use care can also reach the Substance Use Care team directly by texting 612-207-8352 or by calling the main clinic number and scheduling an appointment. Whether people walk-in or schedule an appointment, CUHCC offers compassionate, judgement-free care to address the many physical and psychological effects of substance use so people can reduce use or stop altogether.