Understanding Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Substance use disorder is a condition characterized by persistent drug use despite harmful effects and consequences. The severity of the condition has significant variability, depending on the drug and personal characteristics. Alcohol, cannabis, opioids, hypnotics, stimulants, tobacco are some of the substances that may cause the disorder.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Adderaladdiction
- Adderall addiction
- Cocaine Dependence
- Hallucinogen Abuse
- Cocaine Abuse
- Opioid Abuse
- Hallucinogen Dependence
- Cannabis Dependence
- Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Dependence
- Cannabis Abuse
- Amphetamine Abuse
- Antidepressant Abuse
- Alcohol Abuse
- Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Abuse

Signs & symptoms

Signes and symptoms depend significantly on the type of substance involved. Still, the patients affected with the disorder generally show some of the symptoms listed:
- Deterioration in personal or professional aspects.
- Drug use in harmful or hazardous situations.
- Tolerance – a higher dosage of the drug needed to reach the same effect.
- Withdrawal – a distinct group of effects that result from discontinuation of the drug.
- Craving for the drug.
- Inability to stop using the drug, despite wanting to.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made via questioning, physical examination and may include psychiatric assessment and additional tests.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the patient's will and the substances involved. Treatments include psychological therapy, group therapy, and different medications (mainly when treating alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use disorder).

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital