What is Substance Addiction(Substance Use Disorders) and How do you treat It

• Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
• Substances such as Alcohol, Marijuana (cannabis), Nicotine (cigarette), Opioids, Cocaine, Stimulants, Inhalantsetc can all be abused for its psychoactive effects. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
• Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent.
• The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.
• As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high (Tolerance). Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).
• Substance abuse affects every part of your life. It can hurt you and the people around you. It can ruin relationships and your financial health. Abusing drugs can also lead to addiction and cause serious health problems and even death.
• When a person has an addiction, and they stop taking the substance or engaging in the behaviour, they may experience certain symptoms called Withdrawal symptoms, which are specific to the type of Substance Dependence.
• Management:Detoxification, Deaddiction and Rehabilitation: Talk to your doctor for understanding what requirement you have at the time of presentation to the Psychiatrist.
• Risk of relapse: Is extremely common in most substance use disorders and hence requires individualized Relapse Prevention Strategies.
• Addiction treatment can be difficult, but it is effective.
• The best form of treatment depends on the substance and the presentation of the addiction, which varies from person to person. However, treatment often involves counselling, medication, family support and community support.