Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Drugs have been used since the dawn of humanity, whether for religious or recreational purposes. References to drug use date back thousands of years; drug consumption for religious and recreational purposes, as well as the negative consequences associated with excessive use, have been mentioned in Greek history and that of other early civilizations. Substance use disorders are mental and behavioral disorders attributed to substances, whether prescribed or not. Excessive use of alcohol or drugs has been referred to as addiction, addictive disorders, abuse or dependence, or SUDs, although many cultural and social considerations color those terms. Designations such as “alcoholic” or “cokehead” hold no agreed-upon scientific meaning and are often regarded as pejorative. This chapter presents general considerations about drugs and alcohol, followed by brief descriptions of each of these drug categories and special considerations that apply to each drug category, as well as guidelines for treatment. Substance use disorders carry a tremendous societal cost, stemming from lost productivity, trauma, medical problems, and crime expenditures, and finally, non-financial welfare costs, which refer to pain, suffering, and lost life. Users of illicit drugs or alcohol are more likely to be involved in