What is a substance use disorder? Is it different from an addiction?
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What Is a Substance Use Disorder?
Substance use disorder is the clinical term for addiction. In other words, these are simply two ways to describe the same condition.
As noted in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), substance use disorders are characterized by “a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms, indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems.”
In other words, this condition can affect how a person thinks, feels, and acts, robbing them of the ability to control the amount and frequency of their substance use.
Experts often refer to substance use disorders as chronic, relapsing, and progressive conditions:
- Chronic indicates that they are lifelong disorders
- Relapsing means that people may go through periods of abstinence, but will often feel compelled to return to active substance use
- Progressive highlights the fact that untreated substance use disorders often worsen over time
Types of Substance Use Disorders
The DSM-5 contains entries for several specific types of substance use disorders, including:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Cannabis use disorder (marijuana)
- Opioid use disorder (heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers)
- Inhalant use disorder (glues, solvents, paint, household cleaning supplies)
- Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic disorder (benzodiazepines)
- Stimulant use disorder (cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine)
- Phencyclidine use disorder (PCP)
- Other hallucinogen use disorder (LSD, DMT, MDMA (ecstasy)
How Are Substance Use Disorders Diagnosed?
To be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, a person must be evaluated by a qualified professional. The doctor or other expert who conducts the evaluation will refer to the following criteria from the DSM-5 when making the diagnosis:
- Using the substance in larger amounts or for a longer amount of time than anticipated
- Having powerful urges to use the substance
- Having a persistent desire, and possibly multiple failed attempts, to stop using the substance
- Spending a considerable amount of time seeking, acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of the substance
- Failing to fulfill personal, academic, or work-related responsibilities due to substance use
- Continuing to use the substance even after experiencing physical or psychological damage that was caused or worsened by prior use of the substance
- Continuing to use the substance even after having personal or social problems that were caused or worsened by prior use of the substance
- Using the substance in circumstances that are physically hazardous, such as combining it with other drugs or driving while impaired
- Reducing or ending participation in important social or work-related activities due to substance use
- Developing tolerance, or needing to use larger amounts of the substance to experience its effects
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using the substance
A person only needs to meet two of the criteria listed above to be accurately diagnosed with a substance use disorder. The DSM-5 also includes severity specifiers based on how many of these symptoms a person has:
- Mild substance use disorder (two or three symptoms)
- Moderate substance use disorder (four or five symptoms)
- Severe substance use disorder (six or more symptoms)
Substance Use Disorder Warning Signs
People who have become addicted to alcohol or other drugs often attempt to hide evidence of their struggles from family, friends, and colleagues. However, given the degree of disruption that addictions can cause, it is difficult to maintain this secrecy.
Potential warning signs that someone has developed a substance use disorder include:
- Significant changes in mood, motivation, and energy
- Lying or being otherwise deceptive about their whereabouts and activities
- Trying to buy, borrow, or steal medications that were prescribed to someone else
- Downturn in performance at work or in school
- Needing to use substances to cope with stress or to feel happy
- Becoming angry or agitated when not able to acquire or use the substance
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Unintentional weight gain or loss
- Seeming to neglect their appearance and grooming
On their own, none of these warning signs are definitive indicators that a person has a substance use disorder. Many of them could also indicate a mental health disorder, medical concern, or other problem.
If someone in your life has been exhibiting these types of signs, an ideal first step would be for them to consult with their doctor or schedule an assessment with a reputable addiction treatment provider in their area.
Once a person has completed an evaluation and received a diagnosis, they can begin to explore appropriate treatment options.
How Are Substance Use Disorders Treated?
There’s no single “perfect” type of treatment or course of care for substance use disorders. Addiction treatment can occur in a variety of environments and may contain a wide range of therapies and support services.
This underscores the value of treatment providers that review each client’s circumstances and develop customized plans that reflect their unique history, needs, and goals.
Depending on what’s right for each individual, they may benefit from spending time in one or more of the following programs:
- Detox
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient counseling
- Virtual treatment
- Sober living residences
Elements of care that may be incorporated into comprehensive addiction treatment plans include:
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies
- Meditation, yoga, and other holistic therapies
- Aftercare planning and support
Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Atlanta
North Atlanta Behavioral Health is a premier provider of customized outpatient treatment for adults who have become dependent on alcohol and other drugs. We also provide dual diagnosis programming for clients whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
Our outpatient rehab in Atlanta, GA, is a safe and welcoming environment where clients receive close personal attention and comprehensive support from a team of experienced and compassionate professionals.
We understand the many ways that substance use disorders can disrupt a person’s life, and we’re committed to providing the individualized services that empower them to live a much healthier and more hopeful life in recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
