A chronic disorder characterized by the uncontrolled use of substances that affect a person's brain and behavior. Examples of substances include: alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, and other stimulants. The risk of addiction and the rate at which a person becomes addicted varies from substance to substance.
Factors that influence substance abuse include genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Drug use is often influenced by both family beliefs and exposure to peer groups that encourage it. Once started, the progression to addiction depends on hereditary traits that can delay or accelerate the progression of the disease.
Symptoms of addiction include a constant desire to use the drug, an intense need to do so despite negative consequences, and a need to increase the dose to achieve the same effect. In addition, addicts often spend a lot of money on the drug and neglect their work and social obligations.
Addiction can lead to total devotion to obtaining and using the drug, failure in attempts to quit, and withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.
The diagnosis of substance abuse is made through clinical assessment of symptoms and the person's history of use.
Treatment may include psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Washington, DC 2022.
- Suen LW, Makam AN, Snyder HR, et al. National Prevalence of Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders Among Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations: NHAMCS 2014-2018. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:2420.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. HHS Publication No. PEP21-07-0, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Services Administration; Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD 2021.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/medical-consequences-drug-abuse (Accessed on May 31, 2016).
