September is National Recovery Month, which recognizes that people can take many pathways as they recover from substance use and alcohol use disorders. This month celebrates the progress made by individuals, families, providers, organizations, and institutions to build recovery-ready communities and make recovery possible for everyone.
People with disabilities can also have substance use disorders. For example, people with mental health conditions are at higher risk of developing substance use disorders than people without those conditions. Many people with disabilities also live with chronic pain that interferes with daily living and may face challenges in balancing pain management and use of opioids and other substances that may be addictive. In addition, people with alcohol or substance use disorders may themselves be considered as having a disability, with rights and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Researchers and developers in the NIDILRR grantee community are exploring substance use disorders and disability. They are developing interventions and resources to help people with disabilities find balance between managing pain and maintaining wellness on the path to recovery. These are just a few of the projects working in this area.
Current research
A Longitudinal Study of Opioid Use, Misuse, and Co-Use of Other Substances: Related Changes in Outcomes After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is building on more than 30 years of longitudinal health research to identify prevalence and changes in substance use among people with traumatic spinal SCI; risk factors for use, misuse, and co-use with other prescription and non-prescription substances; and the relationships of change in use with five-year changes in health, participation, and employment.
Ohio Regional TBI Model System is developing resources for actionable interventions to address substance use after traumatic brain injury (TBI), including specialized, outpatient treatment programs for individuals with TBI and substance use disorders.
Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System (TMSCIS) is investigating the connection between early opioid administration after injury and subsequent outcomes in people with SCI to help in developing intervention strategies and acute pain management programming.
TIRR Memorial Hermann/Baylor College of Medicine/UT Health Collaborative Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System is conducting research to track patterns of everyday neurobehavioral symptoms (e.g., emotions, fatigue, cognitive challenges, and substance use) that often develop into mental health conditions across the first year after TBI, and to determine patterns in these symptoms that predict a diagnosis of depression or anxiety at 1-year postinjury.
Resources for Recovery Month
- ADA, Addiction, and Recovery is a set of factsheets to help people in recovery understand their rights under the ADA, and to help employers, businesses, and government understand their responsibilities under the law.
- Partnering for Better Chronic Pain Management and Safer Opioid Use: A Knowledge Hub for People with Disability and Their Providers is a set of evidence-based resources to support people with chronic pain and disabilities, as well as their healthcare providers, to better manage pain, more safely manage opioids, and learn about accessing treatment for opioid use disorder.
- Understanding Opioid Use Among Adults with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Living in the United States: An Issue Brief (PDF) summarizes the state of the science of opioid use, misuse, and opioid use disorder among individuals with SCI. The brief describes opioids and their use among people with and without SCI, along with perspectives from and risks for people with SCI, and considerations for future research and clinical directions.
To learn more about NIDILRR-funded research in these and other areas, explore the NIDILRR Program Database at naric.com. If you need help to connect with recovery and support resources in your community, contact our information specialists by phone, email, chat, or virtual visit.