Hearing impaired persons tend to have an elevated risk of drug use issues because of the impairment, and treatment services should be available which serves their needs. Individuals who are hearing impaired can feel alone, unmotivated, and goalless because of the impairment. Many hearing impaired individuals then opt to self medicate with drugs or alcohol to numb this pain and experience a temporary escape from the psychological and emotional problems that accompany having this handicap in life. Firstly, detecting an alcohol and drug abuse problem among the hearing impaired is usually a challenge, since these individuals may attempt to hide their issue as a result of social stigmas that come with substance abuse. However, alcohol and drug treatment counselors who offer treatment to hearing impaired individuals see the challenges these clients face. ASL treatment services are definitely a must, as well as rehabilitation services which address the unique challenges that hearing impaired individuals encounter. Group therapy provides a venue for important peer support to ensure treatment clients can know that they're not alone, and that there is hope to handle their challenge with alcohol and drugs. Individual therapy services can be more tailored for each person to ensure that their unique problems can be treated in rehabilitation.