General Description
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
Substance abuse and alcohol disorders are among the most common behavioral problems encountered by professionals. Rates of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, suicide, criminal behaviors and medical disorders are much higher among those individuals with substance and alcohol disorders. The medical, psychiatric and social complications of substance and alcohol disorders make them among the most costly to individuals, families and society. As these conditions have come to be viewed as medical rather than moral problems, research into the cause of the conditions has led to the development of effective medical and psychosocial treatments to treat withdrawal, craving, gain abstinence, reduce relapse rates and create strategies to prevent the onset of these conditions in vulnerable individuals.
Diagnostic Criteria
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
A person could be diagnosed with Substance Abuse if the following symptoms are seen.
- A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to obvious stress, as seen in at least one of the following symptoms within a twelve month period:
- Frequent substance use resulting in failure to meet obligations.
- Frequent substance use when it is physically hazardous such as driving a car, or operating a machine.
- Reoccurring legal problems due to the substance.
- Continued use despite the problems cause by the substance in individual interpersonal relationships.
- The criteria has never been met for Substance Dependence for this substance.
A person could be diagnosed with Substance Dependence if the following symptoms are seen.
A pattern of substance use leading to obvious stress, as seen in at least three of the following in a 12 month period.
- Tolerance as seen by a need to increase the amount to get a desired effect or less of an effect with the same about of substance.
- Withdrawal as seen by the characteristic withdrawal syndrome or the same or close to the same substance is used to avoid withdrawal.
- The individual increased the use of the substance or the individual takes the substance longer than they intended to take it.
- The efforts to control substance use are unsuccessful.
- A long time is spent getting the substance and also recovering for its effects.
- Individual will give up social, occupational, and recreational activities for the substance.
- The substance use continues even though it has caused physical and psychological problem which have lead to more use of the substance.
A person could be diagnosed with Substance Intoxication if the following symptoms are seen.
- Ingestion of substance causes reversible substance specific syndrome.
- Obvious behavior or psychological changes have been made due to the effect on the central nervous system during or shortly after taking the substance.
- The symptoms can not be justified by a medical condition and do not fit another mental disorder.
A person could be diagnosed with Substance Withdrawal if the following symptoms are seen.
- The development of a substance-specific syndrome because of a lack of use after a prolonged and heavy use of a substance.
- The substance-specific syndrome causes obvious stress on social, occupational, and other important aspects of a person's life.
- The symptoms can not be justified by a medical condition and do not fit another mental disorder.
Etiology
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
Children of parents that are substance-abuser are more likely to develop a substance abuse problem. Peer pressure has a large impact on children using substances. Substance abuse is primarily not an issue to around the ages of 10 to 11 years old. Substance abuse is related to poverty, physical or sexual abuse, etc. It is also related to other disorders such as anxiety and learning disorders.
Prevalence
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
"unknown"
EBP Treatment Approaches
Listed below are either evidence-based practices or promising practices that have been successful at treating Substance Use Disorders.
Psychosocial Treatments
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Behavioral Therapies
- Skills Development
- Family Therapy
- Multisystemic Therapy Individual
- Psychotherapy
- Medical detoxification
References
Weinberg, N. Z.; Rahdert, E.; Colliver, J. D.; Glantz, M. D. (1998, Mar.) Adolescent substance abuse: a review of the past 10 years.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 37(3):252-261.
Note - Full text is available through the University at Buffalo Libraries.
Szapocznik, J & Hervis, O. E. (2001). Brief strategic family therapy: a revised manual. National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment Manual.
Links
Teens.drugabuse.gov - NIDA for Teens - The Science Behind Drug Abuse.
BacktoSchool.drugabuse.gov - Resources for students and teachers.
HIV.drugabuse.gov - Information on the links between HIV/AIDS and Drug Use.
Marijuana-Info.org - Information about Marijuana
ClubDrugs.org - Information about Ecstasy, Methamphetamine, GHB and others
SteroidAbuse.org - Information on Anabolic Steroids.
Smoking.drugabuse.gov - Information on nicotine addiction
APA Practice Guideline
Practice Guideline Clearing House
Practice Guideline Gateway
Diagnosis, Treatment, Research Gateway
National Substance Abuse Research and Treatment Gateway
National Substance Abuse Information Gateway
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
New York State
Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
Alcoholics
Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Note - Click on topic. (Please note disclaimer).
The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.
The AACAP website includes facts, statistics, and overviews of different problems children and adolescents face and different mental health disorders that affect children and adolescents.
Fact Sheets from the National Institute of Mental Health
Note - Click on "select a topic".
NIMH offers a variety of publications and other educational resources to help people with mental health disorders, the general public, mental health and health care practitioners, and researchers gain a better understanding of mental illnesses and the research programs of the NIMH.
This website includes facts, statistics, pamphlets, checklists, and overviews of mental health disorders.
Fact Sheets from the National Mental Health Association
Note - Click on topic.
The NMHA offers answers to frequently asked questions, facts, statistics and overviews about different mental health disorders, as well as information about treatments and other problems that affect children and adolescents.
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