Stigma (Farley-Toombs, 2012), a tendency to externalize responsibility for their behavior (Olfson et al., 1998; Wang et al., 2005), low perceived need for treatment (Mojtabai et al., 2002), and limited availability of treatment facilities (Cummings et al., 2014) may contribute to low treatment-seeking by individuals with SUD. A focus on the short-term euphoric effects of drug use and negligence of longer-term negative consequences may also diminish motivation to seek treatment. In contrast to the dysphoric states that coincide with onset of mood and anxiety disorders, substantial delays may occur in the onset of adverse subjective states in drug use (Arria et al., 2012; Zuvekas and Hill, 2000). It is also possible that treatments for SUD may be perceived as not efficacious as treatments for mental disorder, which may further impede treatment-seeking for SUDs (Mojtabai and Crum, 2012). In addition, some mental health professionals may be reluctant to treat individuals with SUDs (Moodley-Kunnie, 1988).
