Medindia
Why Register as Premium Member if you have Hypertension? Click Here
Medindia » Disease & Condition

Substance Abuse Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment

Medically Reviewed by dr. simi paknikar, MD on Apr 08, 2015


Diagnosis and Treatment for Substance Abuse Disorder

Diagnosis of Substance Abuse Disorder

A psychiatrist or a psychologist does the assessment of the condition when a person seeks help in a hospital. A licensed alcohol and drug counselor can also help.

Blood, urine and other lab tests may not be used for diagnosis of substance abuse disorder, but can help in determining the extent of the problem and monitoring the treatment and recovery.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for substance use disorder lists a behavior pattern of drug use, which can be used to diagnose a person with substance-use disorder.


If at least two of these issues occur within a period of one year, the person can be diagnosed with substance-use disorder.

Examples and effects of Substance-Abuse

Caffeine (when consumed in large quantities)Nicotine/TobaccoAlcohol
Origin
  • Coffee plant
  • Tobacco plant
  • Various sources like grape juice fermentation
Available as
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Cocoa seeds and chocolates
  • Cigarettes
  • Tobacco
  • Wine
  • Beer
  • Other intoxicating drinks
How it is consumed
  • As beverage
  • Smoked
  • Chewed
  • Snorted
  • As beverage
Immediate effects
  • Increased energy
  • Pleasure
  • Improved performance
  • Relief of depression
  • Lessens your inhibitions
  • Slurs speech
  • Decreases muscle control
Harmful effects
  • High blood pressure
  • Incontinence
  • Insomnia
  • Peptic ulcers
  • Worsens menopause symptoms
  • Heart disease
  • Lung cancer
  • Emphysema
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Liver damage
  • Heart enlargement
  • Delirium tremens
  • Cancer of pancreas, stomach and esophagus
  • Cause of road accidents
Withdrawal symptoms
  • Sleepiness and lethargy
  • Irritability
  • Constipation
  • Muscle pain and stiffness
  • Panic attacks
  • Hunger
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Tremor and seizures
  • Hallucinations

CocaineMethamphetaminesMarijuanaHeroin
Origin
  • Coca plant
  • Synthesized drugs
  • Cannabis sativa
  • Synthetic or Man-made opioid
Common names
  • Coke
  • Crack
  • Snow
  • Blow
  • Rock
  • Meth
  • Crank
  • Ice
  • Speed
  • Crystal
  • Grass
  • Pot
  • Weed
  • Herb
  • Dope
  • Smack
  • Horse
How it is consumed
  • Injected
  • Snorted
  • Swallowed
  • Snorting
  • Smoked
  • Eaten
  • Inhaled
  • Smoked
  • Eaten
  • Injection
Immediate effects
  • Pleasure
  • Increased alertness
  • Increased alertness
  • Decreased appetite
  • Pleasure
  • Pleasure
  • Relaxation
  • Impaired coordination and memory
  • Drowsiness
  • Pleasure
  • Slowed breathing
Harmful effects
  • Paranoia
  • Constriction of blood vessels
  • Heart damage
  • Heart attack
  • High Blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Hallucinations
  • Destruction of teeth
  • Weight loss
  • Lung irritation
  • Risk of using more dangerous drugs
  • Delirium
  • Stroke
  • Infections due to dirty needles causes tetanus, botulism, HIV
Withdrawal symptoms
  • Depression
  • Reduced energy
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Confusion
  • Aches
  • Sweating

Treatment for Substance Use Disorder

Treatment for substance use disorder consists of two aspects - Residential substance abuse treatment and recovery from substance use disorder.

Outpatient treatment programs may involve individual and group counseling and prescription drugs for the withdrawal symptoms. The length of the treatment session can vary from one hour to intensive whole-day care. However, it must be noted that outpatient substance abuse treatment programs may be of low-intensity and depend a lot on how the person with substance abuse disorder is able to cooperate in the treatment program.

Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment involves admitting the person with substance abuse disorder to a drug rehabilitation center so that intensive therapy and tools can be administered to overcome alcohol or drug addiction. Residential substance abuse treatment centers give the affected person an opportunity to live with other people who are facing the same problem.

The residential drug addiction treatment programs vary in different kinds of set up. Some programs allow visitors, some are short programs and some a stay for a few months. The treatment program also varies according to the person who has substance abuse disorder.


Advantages of inpatient care:

Substance Abuse Recovery

Recovery from drugs varies from person to person. Some common steps taken by the substance users who are trying to recover along with the support of the family and friends can help in overcoming the disorder.

Decide to make a change in the substance use habits:

Find out the treatment options available:


Look up and learn healthy ways to cope up with stress that brought you to these substances:

Control your cravings and look out ways to cope up with them other than drugs:

References:

  1. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - (http://www.samhsa.gov/disorders/substance-use)
  2. Substance use disorder - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_use_disorder)
  3. Substance abuse - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse)
  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues - (http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/substance-abuse-and-mental-health.htm)
  5. 9 Substance-Induced Disorders - (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64178/)

Cite this Article

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. (2015, April 08). Substance Abuse Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment. Medindia. Retrieved on Nov 25, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-substance-abuse-disorder.htm.

  • MLA

    Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. "Substance Abuse Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment". Medindia. Nov 25, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-substance-abuse-disorder.htm>.

  • Chicago

    Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. "Substance Abuse Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-substance-abuse-disorder.htm. (accessed Nov 25, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. 2015. Substance Abuse Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment. Medindia, viewed Nov 25, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-substance-abuse-disorder.htm.

View Non AMP Site | Back to top ↑