Drug or substance abuse, dependence or addiction? Many different terms are used to describe drug and alcohol problems and they can be confusing. Abuse and dependence (sometimes termed addiction) are formal psychiatric diagnoses with specific criteria which are listed in the DSM-IV used in the US and the International Classification of Diseases-10th revision used elsewhere in the world. Although alcohol is legal in the US and not classified as a drug, it is included where ever the term “drug” is used.
Drug dependence (or addiction) refers to a loss of control over using the drug. This means people continue to use the drug despite having adverse consequences and that they are unable to control how often or how much they use. Adverse consequences can be legal problems, arguments with family and friends over drug use, financial problems from spending money on drugs, poor work performance, even divorce or job loss. People who are dependent on (or addicted to) a drug or alcohol have a craving for it and are unable to quit using it on their own even if they try.
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TreatmentThe treatment for addiction or abuse starts with pinpointing the problem. And, although “denial” was once considered as an addiction symptom, modern studies now show that addicted people are actually much less likely to deny the problem if they receive respect and empathy from other people instead of when they are “confronted” or forced into admitting it.
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Medication can be used in the treatment process for addiction / substance abuse and can help with suppression of withdrawal symptoms during detox and in some cases to reestablish normal brain function to suppress cravings and prevent relapse.
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Track your addiction / substance abuse symptoms to identify patterns and help with your treatment plan. Our progress tracker can be printed or even shared with your healthcare professional electronically.
Progress tracking for addiction / substance abuse
News & ResearchThere are numerous support groups in various communities, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, and Ala-Teen. The majority of these groups have a 12-Step program similar to that used by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
http://www.aa.org
A new global analysis by two Australian researchers published in the Lancet summarises data about probable adverse health consequences of problem use of amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids. Using 2009 statistics, they report that marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug (125-200 million users) yet the least likely to cause death although it is still associated with dependence and mental illness. Opioids like heroin are the most likely to cause death and infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.
New research has finally confirmed that addiction is indeed a disease. People have predispositions to addiction based on their genetics, as well as environmental factors. New studies of the brain have discovered areas that are involved in addictive behaviors and tendencies. Now, targeted treatments can be tailored with higher efficacy.
DiagnosisThere are stages of drug use that can lead to dependence. Younger people tend to move through these stages more quickly than adults.
These simple questionnaires are designed to help you determine if you have symptoms of addiction and could benefit from professional help.
Doctor Discussion GuideTalking to your doctor or mental health professional about addiction or substance abuse can be difficult. Knowing what questions to ask can help. Our Doctor Discussion Guide includes a list of questions you may want to ask. You can even add questions of your own and then print out the list.
Doctor Discussion Guide
