Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentRecoveryCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Recovery
Coping
Substance use disorder is a treatable chronic condition that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications.
Different types of substance use disorders can have a wide range of symptoms. However, some common characteristics include personality or attitude changes; sudden weight gain or loss; exhibiting anger, irritability, hyperactivity, agitation, or emotional outbursts; and more. Treatment may involve an inpatient or outpatient program depending on each person’s situation.
This article discusses the types and symptoms of substance use disorders, as well as how it’s diagnosed and treated.
Types of Substance Use Disorder
There are many different types of substance use disorders, including:
While different types of substances can cause various signs and symptoms, being addicted to any type of substance results in the same action on the addiction center in the brain.
Symptoms of a Substance Use Disorder
Each type of drug (or alcohol) use falls under the general category of substance use disorder. This includes substance use disorder involving:
Regardless of the specific type of substance a person is using, there will be similarsigns and symptoms.
Physical Symptoms and Health Problems
Physical symptoms and health problems may include:
Behavioral
Examples of behavioral symptoms may include:
Emotions and Mood
Symptoms related to emotions and mood include:
Social Problems
Types of social problems related to substance use disorder may include:
Drug Addiction: Understanding the Patterns, Effects, and Treatment Options
Causes and Risk Factors
There is no known cause of substance use disorder, but several risks have been identified. A person may be more likely to develop a substance use disorder if one of several factors are present.
Biological Factors
A person’s genes, ethnicity, gender, and the presence of mental health disorders may all increase the risk of developing an addiction.In fact, it is estimated that nearly two-thirds of people in treatment programs for addiction are men.In addition, more than one in four adults living with serious mental health problems also has a substance use problem.
Environment and Culture
A person’s environment—such as experiencing abuse or neglect during childhood, peer pressure during adolescence, or intense stress levels at any age—can raise the risk of developing a substance use disorder.Environmental risk factors for youth include:
Age
There are specific ages that make a person more likely to develop a substance use problem. Adolescence is a particularly risky time due to thedeveloping, not-yet-mature brain. Drug use impacts the impulse control part of the brain.Thus, drug use causes changes in the brain that can result in a lack of self-control and poor decision-making and judgment.
In addition, teenagers are at greater risk of becoming addicted compared to those who begin substance use as adults.
The diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder include a wide range of signs and symptoms resulting from substance use. “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” 5th Editing (DSM-5) spells out specific criteria for a diagnosis of substance use disorder, including:
Substance Use Disorder vs. Substance AbuseThe fifth edition (DSM-5) was published in 2013 and changed the terminology from substance abuse, addiction, and alcoholism to Substance Use Disorder (SUD), which encompasses both drugs and alcohol.
Substance Use Disorder vs. Substance Abuse
The fifth edition (DSM-5) was published in 2013 and changed the terminology from substance abuse, addiction, and alcoholism to Substance Use Disorder (SUD), which encompasses both drugs and alcohol.
Substance Use Disorder Categories
Depending on the substance and symptoms, people can fall into different substance use categories:
How Maintenance Therapy Is UsedIn maintenance therapy, a prescribed medication (like methadone) is substituted for a highly addictive drug (like heroin) to prevent withdrawal and cravings, and as part of a harm-reduction strategy.
How Maintenance Therapy Is Used
In maintenance therapy, a prescribed medication (like methadone) is substituted for a highly addictive drug (like heroin) to prevent withdrawal and cravings, and as part of a harm-reduction strategy.
There are several levels of intensity of substance use treatment. The medications and treatment program recommended will be based on each individual’s situation.
Medications
Many different types of medications are commonly prescribed to help treat substance use. The type of drug prescribed depends on many factors, including the phase of treatment a person is in.
Examples of medications for substance use disorders include those that treat the various stages of recovery.
Medication for Detoxification/Withdrawal
Several different medications are given while a person is going through detox; these drugs help safely manage a person’s withdrawal symptoms. The exact type of medication given during detox depends on the recovering person’s drug of choice.
Medications for Substance Use Disorder After Detox
Many types of medications are given to decrease a person’s cravings for a substance, block the ability to get high from a drug, or otherwise help reduce drug-seeking behavior, while helping to stabilize normal brain function. These include:
Inpatient Treatment
There are two types of inpatient treatment:
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Intensive outpatient treatment is an intensive program offering group and individual therapy, an educational component, and other modalities at a day treatment center in which participants attend for a specific number of hours and days per week.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is a less intensive program that usually involves fewer hours and days per week. This program serves as a follow-up treatment, designed to offer a longer-term structure to those who have completed inpatient or intensive outpatient programs.
Other defining factors that are taken into account when assigning a substance use disorder include where a person is on the continuum of recovery. These include:
Coping With a Substance Use Disorder
Maintaining sobriety after treatment for substance use is no small undertaking. It’s a lifelong journey involving continually learning how to apply new coping skills to everyday life.
Some principles lend themselves to helping a person cope with the many factors involved in recovering from an addiction. These factors apply to a spouse, caregiver, and other family members as well. They include:
Supporting a Loved OneFor spouses and family members of those with substance use disorder, it may be vital that you get involved in a support group (such as Al-Anon) and seek help from a mental health professional as well.
Supporting a Loved One
For spouses and family members of those with substance use disorder, it may be vital that you get involved in a support group (such as Al-Anon) and seek help from a mental health professional as well.
Summary
Substance use disorder is a mental health disorder in which a person continually uses drugs or alcohol even though it is causing physical, psychological, and/or personal harm. Symptoms can be physical, emotional, and behavioral. The causes of substance use disorder are unknown, but risk factors have been identified. Treatment will depend on each individual’s situation.
14 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.MedlinePlus.Drug use and addiction.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2016, Nov. Chapter 2.Recovery Research Institute.Substance use disorder signs and symptoms.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use disorders.Alhammad M, Aljedani R, Alsaleh M, et al.Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2022 Dec 8;14(12):e32316. doi:10.7759/cureus.32316Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Gender differences in primary substance of abuse across age groups.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Substance use among youth.Indian Health Service.Teen drug abuse.MSD Manual Consumer Version.Tolerance and resistance to drugs.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.NIAAA recovery research definitions.World Health Organization.Opioid agonist pharmacotherapy used for the treatment of opioid dependence (maintenance).Netz Y.Is the comparison between exercise and pharmacologic treatment of depression in the clinical practice guideline of the American College of Physicians evidence-based?Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:257. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00257
14 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.MedlinePlus.Drug use and addiction.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2016, Nov. Chapter 2.Recovery Research Institute.Substance use disorder signs and symptoms.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use disorders.Alhammad M, Aljedani R, Alsaleh M, et al.Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2022 Dec 8;14(12):e32316. doi:10.7759/cureus.32316Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Gender differences in primary substance of abuse across age groups.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Substance use among youth.Indian Health Service.Teen drug abuse.MSD Manual Consumer Version.Tolerance and resistance to drugs.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.NIAAA recovery research definitions.World Health Organization.Opioid agonist pharmacotherapy used for the treatment of opioid dependence (maintenance).Netz Y.Is the comparison between exercise and pharmacologic treatment of depression in the clinical practice guideline of the American College of Physicians evidence-based?Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:257. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00257
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.
MedlinePlus.Drug use and addiction.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2016, Nov. Chapter 2.Recovery Research Institute.Substance use disorder signs and symptoms.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use disorders.Alhammad M, Aljedani R, Alsaleh M, et al.Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2022 Dec 8;14(12):e32316. doi:10.7759/cureus.32316Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Gender differences in primary substance of abuse across age groups.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Substance use among youth.Indian Health Service.Teen drug abuse.MSD Manual Consumer Version.Tolerance and resistance to drugs.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.NIAAA recovery research definitions.World Health Organization.Opioid agonist pharmacotherapy used for the treatment of opioid dependence (maintenance).Netz Y.Is the comparison between exercise and pharmacologic treatment of depression in the clinical practice guideline of the American College of Physicians evidence-based?Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:257. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00257
MedlinePlus.Drug use and addiction.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2016, Nov. Chapter 2.
Recovery Research Institute.Substance use disorder signs and symptoms.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use disorders.
Alhammad M, Aljedani R, Alsaleh M, et al.Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2022 Dec 8;14(12):e32316. doi:10.7759/cureus.32316
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Gender differences in primary substance of abuse across age groups.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Substance use among youth.
Indian Health Service.Teen drug abuse.
MSD Manual Consumer Version.Tolerance and resistance to drugs.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.NIAAA recovery research definitions.
World Health Organization.Opioid agonist pharmacotherapy used for the treatment of opioid dependence (maintenance).
Netz Y.Is the comparison between exercise and pharmacologic treatment of depression in the clinical practice guideline of the American College of Physicians evidence-based?Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:257. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00257
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
