There’s often confusion around what constitutes substance misuse, dependency, and addiction.
This is partly why the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recommends using the term “substance use disorder.” This classification includes more diagnostic criteria to help us differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe cases.
Unlike us, many also prefer it because it avoid terms like “abuse,” which can further stigmatize addiction and prevent people from seeking help.
Common symptoms:
Some of the more common addictive substances:
It’s often extremely difficult to quit or control substance use alone without support from a trained professional.
Psychotherapy and addiction counseling can help with recovery, especially if someone started using substances to deal with distressing emotions.
Our therapist can help them explore some of the reasons behind their substance use and come up with new coping strategies for dealing with challenges.
In some cases, medication can help people working through addiction have greater success with recovery.
It can be particularly helpful for preventing relapses in people dealing with substance use disorder involving alcohol, nicotine, or opioids. These medications work in different ways, but they generally help reduce cravings for the substance and reduce symptoms of withdrawal.
We typically recommend using medication in combination with other treatment approaches, like therapy, to address underlying factors.
Twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous help many people achieve recovery. These programs rely on self-help treatment methods and involve anonymous group support from other people working toward recovery.
Comfort and guidance from others working toward recovery can make a lot of difference. However, these programs typically don’t provide enough support on their own. Plus, the 12-step model doesn’t work for everyone.