DSM-5-TR does not list polysubstance use disorder as a standalone diagnosis, yet the label remains common in some treatment settings. Sandy Rivers explains how one broad term can obscure specific substances, trauma, mental health needs, pain, and treatment options - and why person-centered assessment matters.

A letter from a former patient reminded Robert Kent how easily treatment leaders can focus on problems and forget the lives their programs helped change. He argues for both effective treatment and accountability - and for remembering that recovery can lead to a life beyond the 'normal' a person knew before.

Joshua Bennett-Johnson shares an anonymous client's path from severe alcohol and cocaine use to three years of recovery. The turning point was not rejection or forced readiness, but continued connection, client autonomy, urgent medical care, and one steady message: you are not alone.