Substance abuse is a very serious mental disorder. It begins with the chronic abuse of drugs or alcohol and turns into an uncontrollable addiction that causes the person to behave in ways they wouldn’t otherwise behave without the use of drugs. The signs and symptoms of drug abuse depend on the drug but many times it can be detected by noticing someone acting out of character for a prolonged amount of time. The best treatment involves a combination of behavioral therapy and some medication. Recognizing the problem is always the first step to recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, Harper Psychological has the resources to help begin the road to recovery.