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Substance use disorder is a commonly used term to define drug and alcohol addiction. In general, any substance that makes someone lose the ability to control the usage causes a substance use disorder. And this substance doesn’t necessarily need to be something intoxicating; it can be a prescribed medicine as well.

The causes of substance abuse may be anything as silly as friends doing drugs to get high for recreation. The addiction builds up with time, and at a point, the person cannot go a day without taking the drugs or control their use when they do. Trying to stop taking it results in diverse withdrawal symptoms. Even taking painkillers can become an addiction if the usage is not under control or used with brevity.

Causes of Substance Use Disorder

Most people get ahold of illegal drugs from surrounding peers. Occasional use of drugs slowly builds up the habit of substance abuse in many individuals causing many great health hazards.
People get addicted to substances because-

• They induce a feeling of happiness in them.

• These drugs activate the reward center in our nervous system. This causes the

  user to get a momentary feeling of euphoria when they’re under the effects of the

  drug.

• Some drugs enhance performance for the time being, although are harmful to

  health in the long run.

• Some people involve in substance abuse due to a family history of addiction

• Family issues, relationship problems, and mental health issues also stimulate

  some individuals to start taking drugs. They do it as a coping mechanism to deal

  with the emotions.

An individual can start to form an addiction because of many reasons. It varies depending on the geography, environment, upbringing, friends, and many more factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder

Alcohol, opioids, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, stress-releasing drugs, and many more can give rise to substance abuse in people. Substance use disorder symptoms and behaviors include, but not limited to, the following list-

Symptoms (apparent to the user)-

• Losing appetite

• Change in sleep pattern

• A decrease in energy- getting tired without doing any hard work.

• Frequent mood swings, agitation, increased irritability, aggressiveness.

• Feeling depression

• Getting paranoia

• Feeling anxiety and stress often

• Feeling the need for more drug/alcohol than the initial amount (when you first

  started taking it)

• Feeling the urge to ensure the supply of the drugs at any cost.

• Difficulty in concentrating on work or studies

• The urge to go to any extent to get the drugs

• Sudden weight gain/loss

• Changed attitude towards work, hobbies, and life

• Failing to reduce the use of drugs

  Signs of possible use disorder (apparent to the surrounding)-

• A decline in personal hygiene and physical appearance

• Decreased work efficiency

• Decreased coordination at work and personal life

• Relationship problems

• Financial problems due to spending money on drugs and these illegal drugs are expensive.

• A tendency to deny the substance abuse issue when asked.

• Decreased social interactions. The user starts to be around other users or on his

  own only.

• Increasing tolerance of the substance over time. As a result, drug usage

  increases significantly over a couple of months.

• Exhibiting withdrawal symptoms when the user can’t take the drug/ is prohibited

  to do so.

• The user shows hyperactivity- prioritizes work over everything else. This is also a

  coping mechanism.

• Involving in risky activities like driving under the effect of drugs/alcohol, drinking before going to the office, etc.

• User tries to do illegal/immoral activities like stealing and snatching money to get the drug supply.

  Most substance use disorder case studies show that the users tend to isolate themselves from family and friends as their usage slowly turns into an addiction. They tend to show defensive behavior if asked about taking drugs/ drinking alcohol. If it goes untreated for long, it gets severe.

  When to Seek Help

  We’ve stated some of the signs of substance abuse and addiction in the section above. It’s necessary to address the symptoms before it’s too late. If you or someone you know shows these signs, get help as soon as possible. Seek help when-

•  You want to but can’t stop the use of the substance, i.e., you face withdrawal symptoms

• You can’t think of other things than drugs/alcohol.

• You take drugs/alcohol again to escape the withdrawal symptoms

• Your substance abuse causes you to indulge in unsafe activities

  Seek immediate help when someone has overdosed, gets convulsions/seizures, has a problem breathing, or shows a usual reaction after taking a drug. Reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline if you or someone in your family or a friend needs help. Schedule a consultation call with our recovery coaches in Next Level Recovery Associates Inc. if you want to talk about your problem and need suggestions regarding what kind of treatment would be required.

  Some government-run/ national, and non-profit organizations that help people with substance abuse disorders are SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), NIDA (National Institution on Drug Abuse), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), etc. They are open 24/7, 365 days. Don’t wait till it’s late. If you need help for yourself or a dear one, reach out to them without delay.

Final Words

Substance abuse, and mental health issues associated with it, leave a person miserable. It not only harms the user but also creates havoc for their friends and family. At Next Level Recovery Associates, we help individuals and families fight these battles and to achieve a clean and healthy life again. Whether you or your loved ones- if anyone falls prey to a substance abuse problem, immediately reach out to any of the programs stated in the previous section. There are people always ready to help you out. Together we all make the world a better place again so let’s do our part and care about those around us enough to stop talking and starting acting!