Addiction & Substance Use Treatment in Louisville, KY
Addiction is a medical condition, not a moral failing. At Smither Psychiatry, Morgan Smither, PMHNP, provides honest, judgment-free care for patients living with substance use disorders — whether you're newly considering recovery, in active treatment, or working to stay well after years in remission.
Understanding Substance Use Disorder
According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 48 million Americans aged 12 and older lived with a substance use disorder in the past year. Substance use disorder is defined by a pattern of use that causes significant distress or impairment — not by the substance itself or how often you use it.
Like most chronic medical conditions, addiction is shaped by genetics, environment, life experience, and brain chemistry. And like most chronic medical conditions, it is treatable.
Substances We Treat
Morgan provides psychiatric care for patients with substance use disorders involving:
- Alcohol
- Opioids (prescription and illicit)
- Stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine)
- Cannabis
- Benzodiazepines and other sedatives
- Nicotine and tobacco
- Polysubstance use
How Morgan Can Help
Care is individualized and centered on what you want from your life. Common elements include:
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
A thorough assessment that looks at substance use alongside mental health symptoms, medical history, social context, and your goals. Many patients with substance use disorders also have co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, or bipolar disorder — and treating those well is often essential to lasting recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Coordination
For some substance use disorders, FDA-approved medications can dramatically improve outcomes. Morgan can prescribe and manage psychiatric medications and coordinate with other providers and programs as appropriate to your treatment plan.
Treatment of Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
Many patients first notice their substance use as an attempt to manage anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, or sleep. Treating those underlying conditions is a core part of psychiatric care.
Referrals and Coordination
When higher levels of care, specialty addiction medicine, group support, or therapy are appropriate, Morgan helps connect you with the right resources rather than going it alone.
A Note on Experience
Morgan has guest lectured at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing on addiction and substance use disorders, and brings years of experience treating patients across inpatient and outpatient settings. The approach here is practical, respectful, and grounded in current evidence.
Common Signs of a Substance Use Disorder
Diagnosis is not based on a single symptom. The DSM-5 lists 11 criteria; meeting two or more in a 12-month period suggests a substance use disorder. Common signs include:
- Using more or longer than intended
- Wanting to cut down but being unable to
- Spending significant time obtaining, using, or recovering from use
- Cravings or strong urges to use
- Use interfering with work, school, family, or relationships
- Continuing to use despite harm
- Giving up activities you used to enjoy
- Use in physically risky situations
- Tolerance (needing more for the same effect)
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using
If you're in crisis or experiencing severe withdrawal, please seek immediate medical care. For substance use treatment options, the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is free, confidential, and available 24/7. For mental health crisis, call or text 988.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
- An honest, non-judgmental conversation about your history and current use
- Screening for co-occurring mental health and medical conditions
- Discussion of your goals — whether that's abstinence, harm reduction, or something in between
- Review of medications you're taking and what might help
- An initial treatment plan you help shape
Related Conditions
Substance use disorders frequently co-occur with the conditions we treat: