Substance Use Disorders: Understanding Disorders

Marijuana Side Effects

A distorted sense of time Random thinking Paranoia Anxiety Depression Short-term forgetfulness Acute and ongoing psychotic episodes A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction. Individuals with underlying psychotic disorders are especially at risk.

Why do People Use Drugs?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons, including: ---To feel good — feeling of pleasure, "high" ---To do better — improve performance, lower anxiety ---Curiosity and peer pressure ---To feel better — relieve stress or pain

Understanding Terminology - Addiction

Addiction is a condition in which an individual can no longer freely choose to stop use due to extreme physiological dependence. Addiction is marked by compulsive behavior and the experience of withdrawal if the drug is stopped. Withdrawal is a predictable group of signs and symptoms that result from either the sudden removal of, or abrupt decrease in the regular dosage of a drug - these range from unpleasant to deadly.

Common Drugs of Abuse?

Alcohol Marijuana Opiates Cocaine Methamphetamines

Facts About Alcohol

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States 15.1 million American adults have alcohol use disorder Approximately 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes annually Up to 40% of all hospital beds in the United States are being used to treat health conditions that are related to alcohol consumption at any given time1

Facts about Cannabis

Also known as marijuana. Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is an addictive substance. Habitual marijuana users are at risk for developing psychological dependence to the drug. Users report that marijuana makes them feel happy, relaxed, and detached from reality in a desirable way. Marijuana is sedating, generally resulting in a "chill" response in which an individual feels no worries.

Understanding Terminology - Drug Abuse

By definition, drug abuse is any use of an illicit (illegal) drug or the misuse of legal drugs. ---This includes recreational use, making unsupervised dosage changes in prescribed medications, or using prescription drugs not prescribed to you. An individual who abuses drugs, but is not addicted, can freely choose to stop using at any time and will not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Facts about Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug. Death from overdose can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Generally, people snort cocaine powder through the nose, or they rub it into their gums. Cocaine users report feeling Increased sociability, self-esteem, and sexual sensations Hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch Extreme happiness and energy Mental alertness

What is Comorbidity

Comorbidity describes two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person. Drug use disorders commonly occur with other mental illnesses. ---Generally called co-occurring disorders or dual diagnoses. Interactions between illnesses can worsen the course of both/all. It's different for every individual. Drug use disorders may bring out symptoms of another mental illness. Mental illnesses can lead to drug use disorders, possibly as a means of "self-medication."

Why Do People Use Drugs (Continued)

Each drug provides a unique experience - some are sedating (depressants), some are stimulating, and some are psychedelic. The "drug of choice" says a lot about the reasons an individual uses a drug and its perceived benefits and meaning to them. It's not unusual for an addicted person to feel that they are in a relationship with their drug of choice. For this reason, it's vital to have an appreciation for the different subjective experiences associated with each type of drug.

Symptoms of Sunstance Use Disorders

Four Categories: ---Impaired control (1, 2, 4) ---Social problems (3, 5, 6, 7) ---Risky use (8, 9) ---Drug effects (10, 11)

Facts about Opioids

Opioid is a broad term that refers to any drug derived from the Opium Poppy or man-made drugs designed to mimic its effects Morphine Heroin --- Addictioncan begin in as little as two uses. Prescription painkillers ---Oxycodone ---Hydrocodone ---Codeine ---Fentanyl Opioids give the user a sensation of mental, physical, and emotional "escape". Euphoria, numbs pain (physical and emotional), an ultimate escape from reality High doses result in "nodding" - period of desired unconsciousness

Facts about Methamphetamine

Other common names for methamphetamine include chalk, crank, crystal, ice, meth, and speed. The "high" from the drug both starts and fades quickly, so people often take repeated doses in a "binge and crash" pattern. In some cases, people take methamphetamine in a form of binging known as a "run," giving up food and sleep while continuing to take the drug every few hours for up to several days. Users feel a "rush" (euphoria) or "flash", boundless energy, sudden increase in self-esteem, delusional beliefs about ones circumstances and abilities. A single high can last between four and 16 hours.

Reasons People Drink Alcohol

Socially accepted way to alter state of mind Loosen up, relax and unwind Liquid courage Drown sorrows Heightens or blunts emotions It's a learned habit from an early age Treating yourself ("I deserve this!") Not hard to imagine why someone experiencing hardship or mental illness would use alcohol to manage their feelings

Introduction

Substance Use Disorders are the fastest growing area of mental healthcare. Even if you don't work in mental health, you are still likely to encounter patients and clients struggling with or impacted by addiction.

Drug Abuse vs. Drug Addiction

The DSM-5 does not distinguish between drug abuse and drug addiction. ---Instead it utilizes the Mild, Moderate, and Severe scale to label the severity of an individual's condition. It can still be understood that drug abuse and drug addiction are not the same.

Substance Use Disorders

The DSM-5 identifies 10 addictive drug categories. ---Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, [sedatives, hypnotics, and, anxiolytics], stimulants, and other/unknown. Each drug category has its own diagnosis. ---Ex. "Opioid Use Disorder" or "Alcohol Use Disorder" Each drug-specific diagnosis is further specified as Mild, Moderate, or Severe. ---Ex. "Alcohol Use Disorder, Moderate" or "Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe" The level of severity is determined by the number of diagnostic criteria met by the patient.

What are Substance Use Disorders?

The essential feature of a Substance Use Disorder is a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems (DSM-5, p. 483).

Is Addiction a Mental Illness

Yes, addiction is a mental illness. Addiction changes the brain in fundamental ways, disturbing a person's normal hierarchy of needs and desires and substituting new priorities connected with procuring and using the drug. The resulting compulsive behaviors that weaken the ability to control impulses, despite the negative consequences, are similar to hallmarks of other mental illnesses.