What is Substance Abuse?

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to a person's inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs. Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions. The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.

The DSM-5-TR recognizes substance-related disorders resulting from the use of 10 separate classes of drugs:

Alcohol

Caffeine

Cannabis

Hallucinogens

Inhalants

Opioids

Sedatives

Hypnotics, or anxiolytics

Stimulants (including amphetamine-type substances, cocaine, and other stimulants)

Tobacco

Know when You have a Problem with Substance Abuse

Substance use disorders span a wide variety of problems arising from substance use, and cover 11 different criteria:

Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than you're meant to

Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to

Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance

Cravings and urges to use the substance

Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of substance use

Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships

Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use

Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger

Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance

Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)

Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance

The 11 criteria outlined in the DSM-5-TR can be grouped into four primary categories: physical dependence, risky use, social problems, and impaired control.

Substance/medication-induced mental disorders are mental problems that develop in people who did not have mental health problems before using substances. They include:

Substance-induced psychotic disorder:This condition involves experiencing delusions, hallucinations, or both within one month of using or withdrawing from alcohol, illicit substances, or prescription drugs.

Substance-induced bipolar and related disorders: This condition involves experiencing manic/hypomanic symptoms, depressive symptoms, or both while using or during withdrawal from a substance.

Substance-induced depressive disorders:This is a form of depression that can occur after using drugs, alcohol, or medications.

To be diagnosed with this condition, depressive symptoms must not be related to intoxication or withdrawal.

Substance-induced anxiety disorders:This condition involves experiencing anxiety or panic attacks due to using drugs, medications, or alcohol. Anxiety may occur during intoxication or withdrawal, but to be diagnosed, anxiety symptoms must not be symptoms of intoxication or withdrawal.

Substance-induced obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: This condition is marked by the onset of obsessive and compulsive symptoms caused by substance use. To be diagnosed, symptoms must cause distress and impairment in a person's daily life.

Substance-induced obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: This condition involves insomnia and other sleep problems caused by using drugs, alcohol, or certain medications.

Substance-induced sexual dysfunctions: This condition involves experiencing difficulties with sexual arousal, desire, or performance due to substances and medications.

Substance-induced delirium: This condition is marked by symptoms of delirium due to intoxication from a psychoactive substance, including illicit drugs, medications, and alcohol.

Substance-induced neurocognitive disorders: This condition involves experiencing mild or major neurocognitive impairments caused by substance use that persist beyond the intoxication and acute withdrawal period.

Treatment for Substance Abuse?

Although there's no cure for drug addiction, treatment options can help you overcome an addiction and stay drug-free. Your treatment depends on the drug used and any related medical or mental health disorders you may have. Long-term follow-up is important to prevent relapse.