Substance Use Disorder SUD: Symptoms & Treatment

The exact type of medication given during detox depends on the recovering person’s drug of choice. The fifth edition (DSM-5) was published in 2013 and changed the terminology from substance abuse, addiction, and alcoholism to Substance Use Disorder (SUD), which encompasses both drugs and alcohol. While different types of substances can cause various signs and symptoms, being addicted to any type of substance results in the same action on the addiction center in the maverick sober living brain.

For an adult, a divorce, loss of a job or death of a loved one may increase the risk of substance use. For a teenager, moving, family divorce or changing schools can increase their risk. It’s important to turn to healthy coping mechanisms during these times of change, like exercising, meditating or learning a new hobby. Consider seeing a mental health professional if you’re having difficulty managing stress. Substance use disorder (SUD), formerly known as drug addiction, is a mental health condition where you experience a problematic pattern of substance use that affects your health and quality of life. If you’re not ready to approach a health care provider or mental health professional, help lines or hotlines may be a good place to learn about treatment.

Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opioid drugs. Use of hallucinogens can produce different signs and symptoms, depending on the drug. The most common hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP). Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in most states.

Co-occurring mental health conditions

Doctors experience difficulty with diagnosing patients; therefore, it’s nearly impossible for you to know whether your loved one is suffering from one condition or both. Physicians report an increase in cases involving patients from all walks of life who are struggling with a combination of substance abuse and mental health problems. Experts estimate that at least 60% of people that are battling one of these conditions are actually battling both, substance abuse and mental illness. SUD is a health condition that leads to a strong desire to use a substance even though it may have adverse effects on a person’s life. People with SUD may use illegal or legal drugs, including prescription medications.

Opioids

1. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high.
2. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than “natural” or harmless products.
3. They may order drug tests to see how much and how many types of substances are in your body at a time.
4. Hallucinogenics, or psychedelics, are a group of drugs that alter someone’s perception of their thoughts and feelings as well as what’s around them.
5. Medicine treatment options for opioid addiction may include buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.

Researchers believe a combination of factors like genetics, lingering effects of using the substance, peer pressure, and stress can all play a role. There are effective medications that treat opioid , alcohol , and nicotine addiction  and lessen the symptoms of many other mental disorders. Some medications may be useful in treating multiple disorders. For more information on behavioral treatments and medications for SUDs, visit NIDA’s Drug Facts  and Treatment  webpages. For more information about treatment for mental disorders, visit NIMH’s Health Topics webpages.

Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as alcohol yellow eyes part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support.

Clinical trials

Therapists often classify people with chemical dependencies as either interested or not interested in changing. If you are concerned about your own substance use or the substance use of a loved one, it’s good practice to see a healthcare provider for a substance use disorder evaluation and screening. Your primary principle of aa care provider can conduct drug tests via samples of your blood and urine to detect substances. The risk of substance use increases during times of stress and change.

Healthcare professionals take an individualized approach to treating SUD. For a diagnosis of SUD, a person must meet a minimum of 2 out of 11 criteria from the DSM-5-TR over the course of 1 year. Healthcare professionals may perform a medical exam and take a medical history when diagnosing an SUD.