What Is Addiction?

  • Addiction is a major public health problem requiring medical care and impacting large number of individuals; however, it is often not adequately dealt with in healthcare practices. Whereas risky use of drugs poses a threat to public health and safety, addiction is a medical disorder and has to be diagnosed in the context of medical systems and managed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals.
  • According to American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviours.

What is substance use disorder?

  • Substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental health condition in which a person has a problematic pattern of substance use that causes distress and/or impairs their life.
  • SUD exists on a spectrum and may be mild, moderate or severe. It typically involves an overpowering desire to use the substance, increased tolerance to the substance and/or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the substance.
  • A person can have more than one substance use disorder at a time, such as alcohol use disorder and cocaine use disorder.
  • Substance use disorder can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life. It can also be life-threatening. It’s crucial to seek help as soon as you develop signs of SUD.

What are substances?

  • Substances are drugs that have addiction potential. They can be prescription drugs or non-medical drugs and include:
  • Alcohol.
  • Caffeine.
  • Cannabis (marijuana).
  • Hallucinogens, such as PCP and LSD.
  • Hypnotics, sedatives and anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs), such as sleeping pills, benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
  • Inhalants, such as paint thinners, aerosol sprays, gases and nitrites (poppers).
  • Prescription and non-prescription opioids, such as codeine, oxycodone and heroin.
  • Prescription and non-prescription stimulants, such as Adderall®, cocaine and methamphetamine.
  • Tobacco/nicotine, such as smoking cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vaping).
  • Gambling Disorder The DSM-5 also includes gambling disorder under this classification. The American Psychiatric Association explains that this change “reflects the increasing and consistent evidence that some behaviors, such as gambling, activate the brain reward system with effects similar to those of drugs of abuse and that gambling disorder symptoms resemble substance use disorders to a certain extent.”

Symptoms and Causes

  • Taking the substance in larger amounts and for a longer amount of time than you’re meant to if it’s a prescription.
  • Having a strong desire or urge to use the substance.
  • Having unsuccessful efforts to cut down on or control substance use.
  • Spending a lot of time obtaining or using the substance or recovering from its effects.
  • Having issues fulfilling responsibilities at work, school or home due to substance use.
  • Continuing to use the substance, even when it causes problems in relationships.
  • Giving up social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use.
  • Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger.
  • Continuing substance use despite an ongoing physical or psychological problem that’s likely caused or worsened by the substance.
  • Developing tolerance (need for increased amounts to get the same effect).
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.

Management and Treatment

Effective treatments are available for substance use disorder. Treatment is highly individualized — one person may need different types of treatment at different times.

Treatment for SUD often requires continuing care to be effective, as SUD is a chronic condition with the potential for both recovery and relapse.

As people with SUD often have co-occurring mental health conditions, treating them together rather than separately is generally better.

The three main forms of treatment include:

  • Detoxification.
  • Cognitive and behavioral therapies.
  • Medication-assisted therapies.

There are also several different types of treatment settings, including:

  • Outpatient counseling.
  • Intensive outpatient treatment.
  • Inpatient treatment.
  • Long-term therapeutic communities, such as sober living communities