What is a Substance Abuse Disorder?
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications.
What are the signs/symptoms?
Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs. Researchers have found that about half of individuals who experience a SUD during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders can include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and schizophrenia, among others.
Is there a treatment for Substance Abuse?
Substance use may trigger changes in brain structure and function that make a person more likely to develop a mental disorder. Research has found several behavioral therapies that have promise for treating individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.1
References
1NIMH: Substance Abuse and Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health