Hearing impaired individuals tend to have a heightened risk of substance abuse issues due to their impairment, and rehabilitation services should be available to them which cater to their circumstances. People who are hearing impaired can seem to be isolated, unmotivated, and goalless because of the impairment. Many hearing impaired individuals then elect to self medicate with drugs or alcohol to numb this pain and experience a temporary release from the psychological and emotional problems that come with having this handicap in life. In the first place, detecting a drug and alcohol abuse problem among the hearing impaired is generally a challenge, because these individuals may make an attempt to hide their problem because of social stigmas attached to abusing drugs. Having said that, drug treatment counselors who offer rehab to hearing impaired individuals see the challenges these clients face. ASL treatment services are of course a necessity, as are rehabilitation services which address the unique challenges that hearing impaired individuals face. Group therapy gives a forum for important peer interactions in order that rehabilitation clients can know they are not alone, and that there is hope to handle their problem with drugs and alcohol. Individual therapy services may be more tailor-made for each individual so that their own challenges can be remedied in rehabilitation.