Hearing impaired men and women generally have an increased risk of substance abuse issues because of their impairment, and rehabilitation services should be at hand which cater to their needs. People who are hearing impaired can feel alone, unmotivated, and goalless because of their impairment. Some hearing impaired individuals then elect to self medicate with drugs or alcohol to numb this pain and experience a temporary release from the emotional and psychological challenges that come with having this handicap in everyday life. To begin with, detecting an alcohol and drug abuse problem among the hearing impaired is often a challenge, because these individuals may attempt to hide their issue because of social stigmas attached to substance abuse. Having said that, drug and alcohol treatment counselors who provide rehabilitation to hearing impaired individuals comprehend the challenges these clients face. ASL treatment services are of course a necessity, as well as rehabilitation services which address the particular challenges that hearing impaired individuals encounter. Group therapy offers a forum for important peer interactions in order that rehab clients can know they are not alone, and that there is hope to handle their problem with alcohol and drugs. Individual counseling services could be more tailor-made for each person to ensure their unique challenges can be treated in treatment.