Substance abuse, substance dependence, and substance addiction are related terms that refer to different stages or degrees of problematic substance use. While they are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between them:
Substance Abuse: Substance abuse refers to the use of drugs or alcohol in a manner that is harmful to an individual's health, well-being, or social functioning. It involves the recurrent use of substances despite negative consequences. Examples of substance abuse may include excessive drinking, taking illegal drugs, or using prescription medications inappropriately. Substance abuse can have serious repercussions on physical and mental health, relationships, work or school performance, and overall life satisfaction.
Substance Dependence (Substance Use Disorder): Substance dependence, also known as Substance Use Disorder (SUD), is a clinical diagnosis used by mental health professionals to describe a severe pattern of substance use that leads to significant impairment or distress. It is characterized by a cluster of symptoms and behaviors related to substance use. Some of these symptoms include:
- Tolerance: Needing larger amounts of the substance to achieve the desired effect.
- Withdrawal: Experiencing physical or psychological symptoms when trying to stop or reduce substance use.
- Unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down substance use.
- Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of the substance.
- Neglecting important social, occupational, or recreational activities due to substance use.
- Continued substance use despite knowing the physical or psychological harm it causes.
The severity of substance dependence can vary from mild to severe, depending on the number of symptoms present. Substance dependence can apply to both legal substances (like alcohol and prescription medications) and illegal drugs.
- Substance Addiction: Substance addiction is a term often used interchangeably with substance dependence, but it may carry a slightly different connotation. Addiction generally refers to a more compulsive and uncontrollable pattern of substance use. It often implies a psychological or behavioral component, where individuals feel a strong and uncontrollable urge to use the substance despite negative consequences.
While addiction and dependence share many features, addiction can involve a deeper emotional or psychological attachment to the substance. Some people may use the term "addiction" to emphasize the psychological aspect of their relationship with the substance.
It's worth noting that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals, merged substance abuse and substance dependence into a single diagnosis called Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This change was made to better capture the range of severity and patterns of problematic substance use. The severity of SUD is now categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms present.