What is Substance Abuse Disorder?
Substance abuse disorders--which are the abuse of, dependence upon or addiction to alcohol or drugs--destroy families, relationships and lives. According to the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, which was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and eMedicineHealth, about 13 million people in the United States use illicit drugs. Addiction takes a toll on health care and prison costs as well as its victims' lives.
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Substance Abuse Diagnosis
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To receive a substance abuse diagnosis, you have to meet certain criteria. The use of substances must cause a negative impact on your responsibilities at home, work, and/or school. For instance, if you stay home from school to get high, you meet this criteria. Also, using substances in a way that puts your life at danger or getting into substance-related legal trouble are ways to qualify for the diagnosis. For example, if you drive drunk or get multiple DUIs, you would meet the criteria. Another sign of substance abuse is when a person continues to use substances even though that use is already causing problems in his life.
Substance Dependence
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Substance abuse and substance dependence are quite different. Dependence occurs when your tolerance for the substance increases. If you started drinking three drinks a day to get drunk but now have to drink six drinks a day to get drunk, you're becoming dependent on alcohol. Also, when someone is dependent on drugs or alcohol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop using. Many people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol will use for longer than they intended, try unsuccessfully to quit, spend a lot of time getting and using the substance, stop participating in activities that once brought joy to their lives, and continue using even thought the substance has negatively impacted their lives.
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Family and Friends
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If you think that one of your family members or friends has a substance abuse disorder, check for the signs above. Usually people with these disorders attempt to hide their problems and downplay their problems to anyone who asks. It's hard to motivate users to get help if they aren't ready to change. Helping a friend or family member get help from a professional can be a long and tedious process.
Teenage Substance Abuse
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If you're concerned that your teen is using alcohol or drugs, there are signs you should consider. If you're getting calls from your teen's teachers stating that she is falling asleep in class, being disruptive or aggressive, or failing, substance use could be a factor. Also, if your teen is significantly irritable, has mood swings and is more secretive, you should look for signs of drug use. Some signs of substance use are normal teenage behaviors, though, so if you're in doubt consult a mental health professional.
Getting Help
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When someone has a substance abuse disorder, they use because it does something for them. If a person is clinically depressed and can't sleep, she might use drugs to help her fall asleep. If a teenager has anxiety, he might smoke marijuana before school to calm his nerves. Even though it negatively impacts the person's life, he continues to use because it helps in some way. Once a person is motivated to seek treatment, however, there are plenty of treatment options.
If a person is dependent on alcohol or drugs, they'll need to seek the help of a medical professional or go into a detoxification program. If a person isn't dependent, he can get individual and/or group treatment and join a 12-step or other self-help program for support from others who have struggled with addiction.
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