What are the symptoms of substance use disorder?
The symptoms and effects of substance use disorder vary based on the type of substance you use. There are two groups of symptoms based on when or if the substance is in your body. These include:
- Intoxication: This is the immediate and short-term effect of a substance in your body. Symptoms include feeling sleepy, calm, excited, intense emotions, etc. The substance can also affect your judgment and decision-making or physical and mental functioning.
- Withdrawal: These are symptoms that happen when the short-term effects of a substance wear off and the substance starts to leave your body. Symptoms are unpleasant and could include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, difficulty sleeping, muscle cramping and mood changes.
What are the signs of a substance use disorder?
According to the American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the signs of substance use disorder include:
- Taking the substance in larger amounts and for a longer amount of time than you’re meant to if it’s a prescription.
- Having a strong desire or urge to use the substance.
- Having unsuccessful efforts to cut down on or manage substance use.
- Spending a lot of time obtaining or using the substance or recovering from its effects.
- Having issues fulfilling responsibilities at work, school or home due to substance use.
- Continuing to use the substance, even when it causes problems in relationships.
- Giving up social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use.
- Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger.
- Continuing substance use despite an ongoing physical or psychological problem that’s likely caused or worsened by the substance.
- Developing tolerance (need for increased amounts to get the same effect).
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
Seeking medical care as soon as you have signs of substance use disorder is essential.
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What causes substance use disorder?
The exact cause of a substance use disorder isn’t well understood. However, research shows that the changes to your brain’s reward system due to a substance’s addictive potential may cause the condition.
How does a substance use disorder develop?
Studies found that many factors may be involved in the development of an SUD. These could include:
- Social pressure.
- Curiosity of substance effects.
- Performance enhancement (to do better at work or school).
- Emotional escape (like relief from stress, anxiety, fear or depression).
The progression to a substance use disorder often follows this pattern:
- Experimental use (or prescription use): Trying a substance once or using the substance as directed.
- Occasional use: Taking a substance socially or using prescriptions not as directed.
- Heavy use: Taking a substance routinely, with few to no days off of the substance.
- Substance use disorder: You take the substance daily or multiple times daily. There are rarely times when you’re not using a substance.
This is just an example, as this condition looks very different and ranges in severity from person to person.
What are the risk factors for a substance use disorder?
Substance use disorder affects people of all ages, races, sexes, genders and socioeconomic levels.
You may be more at risk of developing it if you:
- Have an underlying mental health condition.
- Have a biological relative with a SUD.
- Have a history of adverse childhood experiences.
- Have a genetic susceptibility (a genetic variant makes SUDs more common).
- Have exposure or easy access to substances.
What are the complications of substance use disorder?
One of the more common and most deadly complications of substance use disorder is overdose. An overdose happens when you take too much of a substance. This is a medical emergency.
Different substances affect different parts of your body. For example, if you overdose on opioids, it targets the part of your brain that regulates your breathing. If not treated quickly, your breathing slows or stops completely, leading to death.
SUD complications are extensive and vary based on severity and type. Common complications may include:
- Cancer.
- Depression.
- Infections (hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV).
- Memory loss.
- Academic or career challenges.
- Interpersonal relationship difficulties.
- Unsafe, illegal or at-risk behaviors.
