Basic Overview of Addiction
Many people use drugs or alcohol sometimes.
When drugs or alcohol start to cause problems for a person, this is called an addiction (officially "substance use disorder").
People who are addicted may use dangerously high amounts of a drug.
They may have strong urges to use the drug, called "cravings," that can be very hard to resist.
They may have problems in their work, relationships, or other parts of their life because of the drugs.
People who are addicted may have trouble giving up the drug, even if they want to.
Often, people who are addicted use drugs or alcohol to try to help deal with difficult feelings, like depression or anxiety.
Many treatments exist that can help with the addiction itself, and with the difficult feelings.
More Information on Addiction
Alcohol and drugs, both legal and illegal, are commonly used in our country. While any level of substance use carries risks, for some people, their use of these substances causes so much difficulty in their lives that they are considered to be suffering from a type of mental illness, known in the DSM* as “Substance Use Disorder.” In day-to-day discussions, people with Substance Use Disorder are often referred to as being “addicted” to a substance, and the term “addiction” is often used to refer to Substance Use Disorder. However, it is important to note that it is not necessary for someone to be physically dependent on a substance to be diagnosed with the disorder.
The DSM lists 11 different symptoms of Substance Use Disorder; technically, a person only needs to show two symptoms to be given the diagnosis, though many individuals struggling with substance use will show many more. The common theme among all the symptoms is interference with important parts of a person’s life-- either their physical health, their psychological health, or their relationships and work obligations.
Some of the symptoms listed do refer to physical dependence on a substance. For instance, people with Substance Use Disorder may experience cravings for the substance, and may need more and more of the substance over time to experience the same effect (known as “tolerance”). They may also experience physical symptoms when they stop using the substance that can be very unpleasant or even dangerous.
Other symptoms involve a person’s behaviors related to the substance. Individuals struggling with Substance Use Disorder may find that they use more of the substance than they had originally planned to use in a given period of time, or may continue using past the point at which they had intended to stop; in severe cases, these behaviors can lead to accidental overdose, or even death. People with Substance Use Disorder may continue to use the substance even when they know it is physically dangerous and/or psychologically damaging to do so. They often struggle to decrease their use, even if they sincerely want to. Additionally, people with Substance Use Disorder will sometimes spend a large amount of time involved with the substance-- either obtaining it, using it, or recovering from the effects of their use (such as feeling “hung over” after drinking alcohol, or “crashing” after using cocaine).
The remaining symptoms refer to the negative effects of substance use on a person’s outside life. Individuals with Substance Use Disorder may find it difficult to tend to their responsibilities at home, work, or school, because of excessive time spent using the substance and/or because of the negative effects of the substance on their bodies. They may give up activities they once loved because of the substance, and may continue to use despite being aware, at least on some level, of the ways in which the substance is harming their lives.
Watching a loved one struggle with Substance Use Disorder can be extremely painful. It is important to remember that these individuals are suffering from a true mental illness, and effective treatment is available. Additionally, many people use substances to help them manage symptoms of other mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. For these individuals, receiving treatment for these other symptoms may make their treatment for Substance Use Disorder much more likely to succeed.
***If you or someone you know is having thoughts about hurting yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.***
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*Information related to specific diagnostic criteria is based on the DSM. For a complete, formal description of diagnostic criteria, please consult the original text:
American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013.