This diagnosis is commonly referred to as Addiction. This means using a substance to the point that it causes harm to the person or those around him/her. Effective treatments are available and include psychological as well as medications (for some kinds of addiction)
Substance Use Disorder
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September 2, 2021
- Posted by: MinHealthWellness
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What is it?
Signs and Symptoms
Craving for the substance (the inner drive to use the substance) drives the behaviours, feeling that you have to use the drug regularly (daily or even several times a day), having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts, over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect, taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended, not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use.
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Mental health problems and substance use disorders sometimes occur together. This is because:
- Certain illegal drugs can cause people with an addiction to experience one or more symptoms of a mental health problem
- Mental health problems can sometimes lead to alcohol or drug use, as some people with a mental health problem may misuse these substances as a form of self-medication
- Mental and substance use disorders share some underlying causes, including changes in brain composition, genetic vulnerabilities, and early exposure to stress or trauma