Drug Abuse

What It Is:
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable medical disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to compulsive use of a legal or illegal drug or medication with continued use despite harmful consequences. SUD is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness with biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors specific to an individual’s life experiences which influence its development and maintenance.  Studies show that about half of individuals who experience a SUD during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. 

 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day

• Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts

• Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect

• Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended

• Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug

• Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it

• Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use

• Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm

• Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing

• Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug

• Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug

• Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug