Psychiatry

Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders are manifested by at least two of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

  • Substances taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
  • Presence of a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control the substance use
  • Time spent in activities necessary to obtain, use or recover from a substance’s effects
  • Craving or urge to use substance
  • Recurrent substance use resulted in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home
  • Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects
  • Important social, occupational or recreational activities were given up or reduced because of substance use
  • Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
  • Substance use continues despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by a substance
  • Tolerance, defined by either a need for markedly increased amounts of a substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance
  • Withdrawal, as manifested by either the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for a substance, or a substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms

What is an Alcohol, Cannabis or Opioid-Use Disorder?

An alcohol, cannabis or opioid-use disorder is a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress

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