Substance Abuse Specialist
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Marc H. Epstein, DO
Adult Psychiatrist & Addiction Specialist located in Greenwich Village, New York, NY
In 2014, a national survey found that 21.5 million people in the United States struggled with substance abuse, eight million of whom had a co-occurring mental health disorder. These numbers continue to rise due in large part to the ever-growing opioid crisis. Marc H. Epstein, DO, is all too familiar with substance abuse and its effects on the lives of his patients in Greenwich Village, New York City, having spent a large part of his career working in the field of addiction psychiatry. If you or a loved one is losing the battle against substance abuse, call 347-244-7693 to get help.
Substance Abuse Q & A
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is a complicated problem that involves all areas of your health, including your mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being. At its core, substance abuse is the harmful use of psychoactive substances, namely drugs and alcohol. There are many different aspects to substance use, from binge drinking on the weekends to increasing use of your drug of choice on a daily basis.
Substance abuse doesn’t necessarily have to have addiction or dependency components, though they often do, because any use of a drug or mind-altering substance that isn’t “normal” is considered to be abuse. This includes taking more medications than prescribed or indulging in a drug in a way that threatens your health and well-being.
What are the signs of substance abuse?
To determine whether you may have an issue with your substance use, the following are the telltale signs of a problem:
- Uncontrolled cravings
- Increasing use
- The inability to stop use
- Needing more of your drug to achieve the same effect
- Reprioritizing your life around your drug use
- Poor performance at school or work
- Increasing isolation
- Withdrawal symptoms when you stop use for any length of time
The bottom line is that a substance use disorder hijacks your entire life and begins to take precedence over all else, including your personal, professional, and social life, as well as your health.
How is substance abuse treated?
Dr. Epstein is an addiction psychiatrist and understands the problems that substance abuse can bring to your life as it increasingly takes control. To break the chains of a substance use problem, Dr. Epstein turns to a number of different treatment protocols, including:
- Medications to control withdrawal and cravings, such as suboxone, Vivitrol®, and naltrexone
- Medications to address co-occurring issues, such as depression or anxiety
- Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy
Dr. Epstein provides tailored services to anyone who struggles with a substance use disorder in an atmosphere that fosters understanding, compassion, and complete privacy. To that end, Dr. Epstein is available for telepsychiatry and e-visits in order to provide you with a discreet treatment setting.
To gain the upper hand on your substance abuse, call Marc H. Epstein, DO at 347-244-7693 or fill out the online form to request an appointment.
