Substance abuse and substance use disorder

Quote from The Lancet Psychiatry: Addiction is a complex disease of a complex brain, ignoring this fact will only hamper our efforts to find effective solutions through a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the underlying phenomena.

People can abuse drugs when they overuse them, often to the point of various negative consequences. They may start to feel withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug – mental, emotional or physical effects that happen because your brain has adapted to having the drug.

It is also possible to develop an addiction to substances. Addiction is a brain disease that is characterized by compulsive use and difficulties in controlling one’s behavior, despite negative consequences. Some people may exhibit tolerance to some substances as a result of use.

Differences in Marijuana Use Disorder Women: develop disorder more quickly1 more anxiety disorders2 more panic attacks2 Men: more severe disorder1 more antisocial personality disorders2 more of other substance use problems2 Prescription Pain Medicines Women are less likely to misuse or abuse prescription pain medicines. Four million women report past-year misuse. Five million men report past-year misuse.3
From NIH.gov
Treatment for Sleeping Aid Misuse Women are more likely to seek treatment for misuse of barbiturates. Fifty-five percent of past-year treatment admissions for barbiturate misuse are women. Forty-five percent of past-year treatment admissions for barbiturate misuse are men.4 Quitting Nicotine Nicotine replacement options, such as the patch or gum, are less effective for women than for men. Quit rates after 6 months on the nicotine patch were 14.7 percent for women and 20.1 percent for men.5

It is possible to treat drug abuse and addiction and there are several effective approaches. Scientists are working on innovative new ways to help people with addiction.

The American Psychological Association also recognizes one behavioral addiction – gambling disorder. While other things like compulsive buying, excess exercise, and too much internet use may not be considered addictions, they may nevertheless be distressing and cause people to feel out of control and suffer negative consequences.

Leave a Reply