Substance-Related Disorders Overview

Substance-related disorders refer to problems caused by using drugs or alcohol excessively. These disorders can lead to a range of negative consequences, including physical harm, social issues, legal troubles, financial difficulties, and damaged relationships. Symptoms may vary depending on the substance involved, and they can affect both the brain and body functions. For example, heavy drinking can cause memory loss, blackouts, seizures, liver damage, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and dehydration. Other symptoms common across most substance abuse disorder symptoms include cravings, withdrawal effects when trying to quit, tolerance to larger amounts needed over time, and drug-seeking behavior.

Risk factors for developing these disorders include genetic vulnerability, personality traits, psychological reactions such as stressors, environmental influences like peer pressure, early exposure to hardcore drugs, occupational factors like high paychecks from drug dealing, and cultural conditions like availability of cheap marijuana. Some specific risks associated with different substances include opioid dependency increasing the likelihood of Hepatitis C infection, methamphetamine being linked to increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases, and prescription painkillers potentially causing constipation.

Treatment options for substance-related disorders often involve a combination of therapies, support groups, medications, and lifestyle changes. Therapies used might include cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps people recognize their triggers, change their behaviors, and make more positive choices; family counseling to address underlying relationship issues; and group therapy where individuals share strategies for staying sober. Medications could include antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, mood stabilizers, sedatives, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, dissociatives, inhalants, and steroids. Lifestyle changes may entail reducing stress levels through relaxation techniques, eating healthy foods, getting plenty of sleep, exercising regularly, increasing personal resources through education, employment, self-respect, and spirituality, managing emotions effectively, avoiding risky situations as much as possible, and making daily living plans to deal with situations.

Substances commonly abused include illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ketamine, cannabis, hallucinogens, PCP, Rohypnol, GHB, and prescription medications such as analgesics, hypnotic-sedatives, antihistamines, tranquilizers, and other prescribed psychotherapeutics. Each type has its own effect on the user's health, wellness, life quality, productivity, work performance, and even criminal activity. The potential impacts range from neglecting responsibilities to engaging in criminal activities such as stealing money, committing robbery, rape, or murder.

In terms of how substance misuse affects mental health, data suggests there is evidence for co-occurrence between psychiatric diagnoses and substance use disorders. This means that some people who have a particular diagnosis also have substance use disorder(s), suggesting a link between them. Furthermore, abuse of certain substances may worsen existing mental health conditions like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, while others like psychostimulants and beta-blockers appear to improve those conditions if correctly administered. Treatment typically includes addressing the addiction itself, providing appropriate medication management, and treating any coexisting mental disorders simultaneously.