Definition
Substance use disorder occurs when a person needs alcohol or another substance (drug) to function normally. Abruptly stopping the substance leads to withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction means that a person has a strong urge to use the substance and cannot stop, even if they want to. Tolerance to a substance (needing a higher dose to get the same effect) is usually part of addiction.
This disorder is also called substance abuse.
Alternative Names
Substance abuse; Chemical use; Chemical abuse; Drug addiction; Addiction – drug; Dependence on drugs
Causes
The exact cause of substance use disorder is not known. A person’s genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress can all be factors.
At least half of those who become addicted have depression, attention deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental problem. A stressful or chaotic lifestyle and low self-esteem are also common.
Children who grow up seeing their parents using drugs may have a high risk of developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.
Commonly abused substances include:
- Opiates and narcotics are powerful painkillers that cause drowsiness and sometimes intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, excitement, and joy. These include heroin, opium, codeine, and narcotic pain medicines that may be prescribed by a doctor or bought illegally.
- Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the brain and nervous system. They include amphetamines, cocaine, and drugs used to treat ADHD, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin). A person can start needing higher amounts of these drugs to feel the same effect.
- Depressants cause drowsiness and reduce anxiety. They include alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Xanax), chloral hydrate, and paraldehyde. Using these substances can lead to addiction.
- LSD, mescaline, psilocybin (“mushrooms”), and phencyclidine (PCP or “angel dust”) can cause a person to see things that are not there (hallucinations) and can lead to psychological addiction.
- Marijuana (cannabis) and hashish
There are several stages of drug use that may lead to addiction. Young people seem to move more quickly through the stages than do adults. Stages are:
- Experimental use — typically involves peers, done for recreational use; the user may enjoy defying parents or other authority figures.
- Regular use — the user misses more and more school or work; worries about losing drug source; uses drugs to “fix” negative feelings; begins to stay away from friends and family; may change friends to those who are regular users; shows increased tolerance and ability to “handle” the drug.
- Problem or risky use — the user loses any motivation; does not care about school and work; has obvious behavior changes; thinking about drug use is more important than all other interests, including relationships; the user becomes secretive; may begin dealing drugs to help support habit; use of other, harder drugs may increase; legal problems may increase.
- Addiction (dependence) — cannot face daily life without drugs; denies problem; physical condition gets worse; loss of “control” over use; may become suicidal; financial and legal problems get worse; may have broken ties with family members or friends.
Symptoms
Symptoms and behaviors of drug use include:
Exams and Tests
Drug tests (toxicology screens) on blood and urine samples can show many chemicals and drugs in the body. How sensitive the test is depends on the drug itself, when the drug was taken, and the testing laboratory. Blood tests are more likely to find a drug than urine tests, though urine drug screens are done more often.
Treatment
Substance use disorder is a serious condition and not easy to treat. The best care and treatment involves trained professionals.
Treatment begins with recognizing the problem. Though “denial” is a common symptom of addiction, people who are addicted have far less denial if they are treated with empathy and respect, rather than told what to do or being confronted.
The substance may either be slowly withdrawn or stopped abruptly. Support for physical and emotional symptoms, as well as staying drug free (abstinence) are also key to treatment:
- People with drug overdose may need emergency treatment in the hospital. The exact treatment depends on the drug used.
- Detoxification (detox) is the withdrawal of the substance abruptly in an environment where there is good support. Detoxification can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
- At times, another drug with a similar action or effect on the body is taken, as the dose is slowly decreased to reduce the side effects and risks of withdrawal. For example, with narcotic addiction, methadone or similar drugs may be used to prevent withdrawal and continued use.
Residential treatment programs monitor and address possible withdrawal symptoms and behaviors. These programs use techniques to get users to recognize their behaviors and learn how not to go back to using (relapse).
If the person also has depression or another mental health disorder, it should be treated. In many cases, a person starts using drugs to try to self-treat mental illness.
Support Groups
Many support groups are available in the community. They include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alateen, and Al-Anon. Most of these groups follow the 12-Step program used in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). SMART Recovery and LifeRing are programs that do not use the 12-step approach. You can find other support groups on the internet.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Substance use may lead to a fatal overdose. Some people start taking the substances again (relapse) after they have stopped.
Complications of substance use include:
- Depression
- Cancer– for example, mouth and stomach cancer are linked to alcohol abuse and dependence
- Infection with HIV, or hepatitis B or C through shared needles
- Loss of job
- Problems with memory and concentration– for example with hallucinogen use, including marijuana (THC)
- Problems with the law
- Relationship breakup
- Unsafe sexual practices, which may result in unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, or hepatitis B
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or a family member is addicted to drugs and would like to get off of them. Also call if you have been cut off from your drug supply and are at risk of withdrawal. Most employers also offer referral services for their employees with substance use problems.
Prevention
Drug education programs can be helpful. Parents can have a strong influence on their children by teaching them about the harms of using substances.