Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsSigns of AddictionTreatmentEffectsCauses and RisksLiving With Drug Addiction
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Signs of Addiction
Treatment
Effects
Causes and Risks
Living With Drug Addiction
Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a mental health condition that can have lifelong impacts. Though it’s a treatable illness, substance use disorder recovery often involves a lifelong cycle of relapse (recurrence of use), withdrawal, and abstinence.
This article will define drug addiction, outline signs and symptoms, present possible causes, and provide treatment options.
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Support ResourcesIf you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Support Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
How Is Drug Addiction Defined?
Drug addiction is a brain disease that falls into the category ofsubstance use disorders. Generally, substance use disorders are defined as having no control over substance use or an inability to quit due totolerance, dependence, andwithdrawal symptoms.
According to theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), substance use disorders are defined as exhibiting:
People with substance use disorder struggle to stop using the substance and often experience painful physical or psychological symptoms when they try to.
Why Does Addiction Happen?Biological, psychological, environmental, and socio-cultural factors can play a role in a person developing a substance use disorder.
Why Does Addiction Happen?
Biological, psychological, environmental, and socio-cultural factors can play a role in a person developing a substance use disorder.
Experiencing Drug Addiction Symptoms
Substance use disorder symptoms are categorized into addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Addiction symptoms are those that indicate a person may be addicted to a substance. Withdrawal symptoms are those that occur when a person tries to stop using a substance.
Addiction Symptoms
According to theDSM-5, addiction symptoms include the following:
Withdrawal Symptoms
People with substance use disorder usually experience several withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop their substance use. These might include:
Severe withdrawal can lead to dangerous and life-threatening health issues. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, seek medical attention for support with withdrawal management.
While increased tolerance and dependence must be present for a formal substance use disorder diagnosis, many people become addicted to substances before developing physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Signs of Drug Addiction in Others
Substance use disorder usually occurs in a cycle with three stages:
Over time, a person with an addiction will start to experience these stages more frequently and more intensely. Additional signs that may indicate a person is using or addicted to a substance include:
Prevalence of AddictionAddiction affects millions of people each year, causing over 11 million deaths from smoking, alcohol abuse, and illegal drugs.
Prevalence of Addiction
Addiction affects millions of people each year, causing over 11 million deaths from smoking, alcohol abuse, and illegal drugs.
Drug Addiction Treatment Options
Substance use disorder treatment can include various interventions, such as:
Regardless of the treatment approach, each method offers education about addiction and recovery. This may include topics like making life changes to support recovery, being honest, seeking help when needed, and practicing self-care.
Steps to Finding Treatment
To locate treatment facilities in your area, try calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for a list of options. You can also visitSAMHSA’s treatment locator website, theAmerican Addiction Centers location finder, or, if you have health insurance, call your insurance company for in-network services. For questions about medical detoxification, talk with your healthcare provider.
To locate a substance abuse mental health provider, you can use a therapist-finder tool, such as theNIAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, or contact your health insurance for a list of in-network providers.
How to Overcome Drug Addiction
Effects of Drug Addiction
Substance use disorder is dangerous and can be fatal for those who do not seek treatment.Other health risks from substance use include:
Substance use disorder can negatively affect a person’s relationships, finances, employment, and other aspects of their life.
The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain and Body
Addiction Causes and Risk Groups
Though anyone can develop substance use disorder, certain people may be at higher risk of addiction. This includes those who:
Most people who develop substance use disorder do so for a combination of reasons, including genetics and environmental factors.
Gateway DrugsMany people develop substance use disorder after first using a gateway drug, which is often a drug that is more widely available and socially acceptable.
Gateway Drugs
Many people develop substance use disorder after first using a gateway drug, which is often a drug that is more widely available and socially acceptable.
Substance use disorder is a lifelong battle. Most people relapse even after stopping substance use for extended periods.There is a risk for recurrence of use at every phase of recovery. The phases of recovery include:
Relapse Is CommonTherelapseor recurrence of use process begins weeks or months before a person actually takes the substance. Early intervention increases the chances of returning to sobriety.About 85% of adults living with substance use disorder will relapse within a year of quitting their substance use.
Relapse Is Common
Therelapseor recurrence of use process begins weeks or months before a person actually takes the substance. Early intervention increases the chances of returning to sobriety.About 85% of adults living with substance use disorder will relapse within a year of quitting their substance use.
A person who is recovering from substance use disorder is always at risk of relapse. The stages of relapse include:
Summary
Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s health, relationships, finances, and well-being. People with substance use disorder usually struggle with relapse for their entire lives and often go through continuous cycles of intoxication, withdrawal, and preoccupation with the substance. Though there are risk factors for developing substance use disorder, anyone can develop it. Treatment is available for people struggling with substance use disorder.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rogers PJ.Food and drug addictions: similarities and differences.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2017;153:182-190. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.001Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(8):834-851. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12060782Jahan AR, Burgess DM.Substance use disorder.StatPearls [Internet].Wise RA, Koob GF.The development and maintenance of drug addiction.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(2):254-262. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.261American Addiction Centers.Signs of drug use & addiction: how to tell if someone is on drugs.Chang R, Peng J, Chen Y, et al.Deep brain stimulation in drug addiction treatment: research progress and perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:858638. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858638National Institute on Drug Abuse.Drugs, brains, and behavior: the science of addiction.Melemis SM.Relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery.Yale J Biol Med. 2015;88(3):325-332.NIDA. 2022.Addiction and health.Cheron J, Kerchove d’Exaerde A.Drug addiction: from bench to bedside.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):424. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01542-0
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rogers PJ.Food and drug addictions: similarities and differences.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2017;153:182-190. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.001Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(8):834-851. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12060782Jahan AR, Burgess DM.Substance use disorder.StatPearls [Internet].Wise RA, Koob GF.The development and maintenance of drug addiction.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(2):254-262. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.261American Addiction Centers.Signs of drug use & addiction: how to tell if someone is on drugs.Chang R, Peng J, Chen Y, et al.Deep brain stimulation in drug addiction treatment: research progress and perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:858638. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858638National Institute on Drug Abuse.Drugs, brains, and behavior: the science of addiction.Melemis SM.Relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery.Yale J Biol Med. 2015;88(3):325-332.NIDA. 2022.Addiction and health.Cheron J, Kerchove d’Exaerde A.Drug addiction: from bench to bedside.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):424. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01542-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rogers PJ.Food and drug addictions: similarities and differences.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2017;153:182-190. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.001Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(8):834-851. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12060782Jahan AR, Burgess DM.Substance use disorder.StatPearls [Internet].Wise RA, Koob GF.The development and maintenance of drug addiction.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(2):254-262. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.261American Addiction Centers.Signs of drug use & addiction: how to tell if someone is on drugs.Chang R, Peng J, Chen Y, et al.Deep brain stimulation in drug addiction treatment: research progress and perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:858638. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858638National Institute on Drug Abuse.Drugs, brains, and behavior: the science of addiction.Melemis SM.Relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery.Yale J Biol Med. 2015;88(3):325-332.NIDA. 2022.Addiction and health.Cheron J, Kerchove d’Exaerde A.Drug addiction: from bench to bedside.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):424. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01542-0
Rogers PJ.Food and drug addictions: similarities and differences.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2017;153:182-190. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.001
Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(8):834-851. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12060782
Jahan AR, Burgess DM.Substance use disorder.StatPearls [Internet].
Wise RA, Koob GF.The development and maintenance of drug addiction.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(2):254-262. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.261
American Addiction Centers.Signs of drug use & addiction: how to tell if someone is on drugs.
Chang R, Peng J, Chen Y, et al.Deep brain stimulation in drug addiction treatment: research progress and perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:858638. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858638
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Drugs, brains, and behavior: the science of addiction.
Melemis SM.Relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery.Yale J Biol Med. 2015;88(3):325-332.
NIDA. 2022.Addiction and health.
Cheron J, Kerchove d’Exaerde A.Drug addiction: from bench to bedside.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):424. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01542-0
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