Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse

Substance Misuse

Substance misuse falls between use and abuse, encompassing use without dependence or a substance use disorder. This could include risky substance use behaviors like binge drinking, misusing prescription medications, mixing substances, or using drugs while pregnant. The key aspect is use that could cause harm to the individual or community, even if addiction or dependence are not present.

 

Reference

McLellan, A. T. (2017). Substance misuse and substance use disorders:

Why do they matter in healthcare?. Transactions of the American

clinical and Climatological Association.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525418/

person holding babys hand
person holding babys hand
assorted glass bottles on brown wooden shelf
assorted glass bottles on brown wooden shelf
a close-up of a syringe
a close-up of a syringe

Substance Use 

Substance use refers to the consumption of drugs or alcohol. Substance use exists on a spectrum from abstinence to heavy use. Moderate substance use that does not cause significant impairment or distress is often considered normal adult behavior. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mild to moderate alcohol use is defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Casual cannabis use is also considered normal use by some standards. 

Reference

Mental illness and substance use (2022) SAMSHA. https://www.samhsa.gov/young-adults

6 Tips to Combat Substance Abuse

  1. Support groups - Peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous provide community, accountability, and healthy connections to help replace substance use.

  2. Relapse prevention planning - Identifying personal triggers and high-risk situations, along with go-to coping strategies, can prepare someone to ride out urges or cravings without relapsing.

  3. Self-care and lifestyle changes - Getting enough sleep, nutrition, exercise and incorporating stress relievers like meditation or yoga helps stabilize mood and prevents compounding stress that can lead to relapse.

  4. Counseling and therapy - Working through underlying trauma, building healthy coping skills, and changing problematic thought patterns via counseling addresses roots of addiction and makes relapse less likely.

  5. Medications - Drugs like naltrexone, acamprosate, buprenorphine, methadone, and nicotine patches help manage withdrawal, reduce cravings, and normalize brain changes related to addiction.

  6. Removing temptations and distractions - Avoiding bars, triggering friends/locations, and developing substance-free hobbies and accountability measures help sustain sobriety progress.

    Reference

    Continuing care guidance - ny.gov. (2023). https://oasas.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/01/continuing-care.pdf

Substance abuse

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. It involves the repeated and excessive consumption of these substances, leading to negative consequences on an individual's physical health, mental well-being, social relationships, and overall functioning. Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of behavior that includes impaired control over substance use, continued use despite adverse consequences, and a preoccupation with obtaining and using the substance.

Reference

What is a substance use disorder?. Psychiatry.org - What Is a Substance

Use Disorder? (2023). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-