Alcohol or Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a problematic pattern of substance use leading to significant impairment or distress. This involves a range of symptoms related to loss of control, social impairment, risky use, and tolerance/withdrawal.

When you’re struggling with addiction, you’re not able to control your drug use, and you may continue using the substance despite the harm it causes. Drug or alcohol addiction can cause an intense craving for the substance. You may want to quit, but you, like many people, find they can’t do it on your own.

Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes you significant impairment, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. Continued use/abuse can cause serious, long-term consequences, including problems with your health, relationships, employment, and the law.

You may need help from your doctor, family, friends, support groups, or an organized treatment program to overcome your substance or alcohol use/misuse and to remain substance-free.

ALCOHOL USE DISORDER (AUD)

Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of developing serious health problems in addition to those issues associated with intoxication behaviors and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use causes 88,000 deaths a year. An estimated 17 million Americans have an AUD.

The definitions for the different levels of drinking include the following:

• Moderate Drinking—up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men
• Binge Drinking—drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks on the same day/occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days
• Heavy Drinking—drinking 5 or more drinks on the same day/occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days

Excessive drinking can put you at risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in addition to other health and safety problems. Genetics have also been shown to be a risk factor for the development of an AUD.

To be diagnosed with an AUD, individuals must meet certain diagnostic criteria, including problems controlling intake of alcohol, continued use of alcohol despite problems resulting from drinking, development of a tolerance, drinking that leads to risky situations, or the development of withdrawal symptoms. The severity of an AUD—mild, moderate, or severe—is based on the number of criteria met.

STIMULANT USE DISORDER

Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. They include a wide range of drugs that have historically been used to treat conditions, such as obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and, occasionally, depression. Like other prescription medications, stimulants can be diverted for illegal use. The most commonly abused stimulants are amphetamines, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Symptoms of stimulant use disorders include craving for stimulants, failure to control use when attempted, continued use despite interference with major obligations or social functioning, use of larger amounts over time, development of tolerance, spending a great deal of time to obtain and use stimulants, and withdrawal symptoms that occur after stopping or reducing use, including fatigue, vivid and unpleasant dreams, sleep problems, increased appetite, or irregular problems in controlling movement.