Substance Use Disorders

Symptoms

Impaired control over substance use

• The individual may take the substance in larger amounts or over a longer period than was originally intended.

• The individual may express a persistent desire to cut down or regulate substance use and may report multiple unsuccessful efforts to decrease or discontinue use.

• The individual may spend a great deal of time obtaining the substance, using the substance, or recovering from its effects.

• Craving is manifested by an intense desire or urge for the drug that may occur at any time but is more likely when in an environment where the drug previously was obtained or used.

Social impairment

• Recurrent substance use may result in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.

• The individual may continue substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance.

• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities may be given up or reduced because of substance use.

Risky use of the substance

• Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous.

• The individual may continue substance use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance .

Pharmacological criteria

• Tolerance is signaled by requiring a markedly increased dose of the substance to achieve the desired effect or a markedly reduced effect when the usual dose is consumed.

• Withdrawal is a syndrome that occurs when blood or tissue concentrations of a substance decline in an individual who had maintained prolonged heavy use of the substance. After developing withdrawal symptoms, the individual is likely to consume the substance to relieve the symptoms.