What is Substance Use Disorder?
Substance use disorder is the excessive use of substances, such as alcohol, pain medications, or illegal drugs, regardless of the consequences. Consequences can range from physical, social, or even emotional harm.
Substance use disorder occurs when the recurrent use of the substance causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Substance use disorder is a chronic disease. Repeated substance use can lead to brain changes that interfere with a person who uses substances’ ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.
The Difference Between Dependency and Addiction
Physical dependence can occur with the regular use of any substance, even when taken as prescribed. It occurs because the body naturally adapts to regular exposure to a substance. When that substance is taken away (withdrawn), symptoms can emerge while the body re-adjusts to the loss of the substance. Physical dependence can lead to craving the drug to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, despite negative consequences, such as failure to meet work, social, or family obligations.
Commonly Used Substances
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Prescription medicines, such as pain pills, stimulants, or anxiety pills
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants
NIDA. “Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6 Jun. 2018, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
NIDA. “Commonly Used Drugs Charts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 20 Aug. 2020, https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts