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The term "substance abuse" is used to describe a pattern of substance (alcohol/drug) use leading to significant problems or distress in a person's life. Examples would include drinking/using in a potentially hazardous situation (driving, working with tools, watching children), getting into relationship problems with family or friends due to drinking or using; or getting into legal, work or school trouble.
Substance abuse can be the use of illegal substances, or the abuse of legal substances. Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug.
The term "substance dependence" or "chemical dependence" refers to the condition where a person has developed a "need" for alcohol or other mood altering substance. A person with substance dependence will continue to drink/use in spite of mounting and continual problems such as those listed above. Tolerance (a need for increasing amounts or alcohol or a drug to get the original effect) may develop, as can withdrawal
(physical or emotional distress when cutting back or abstaining). As dependence progresses, a person slips further and further away from family and friends, performance at work or school deteriorates, and health related problems arise. A trait of substance dependence is the lack of a person's ability to recognize the symptoms of the disease and attribute life problems to his or her alcohol/drug use.
The following are common behaviors that indicate a person is having a problem with substance abuse. This is not a complete list, and each individual may experience symptoms differently.
- inability to keep promises to stop or cut down use
getting high or intoxicated on a regular basis
- lying about use, especially about how much or often he or she is drinking or using
- becoming defensive or angry when confronted about use
- withdrawing from family and old friends
- preferring the company of other drinkers or users
- moving away from activities he or she used to enjoy sober such as sports or hobbies in favor of more drinking partying type activities
- talking a lot about alcohol or drugs
- believing he or she needs to drink or use in order to have fun
- pressuring others to drink or use
- hiding or sneaking alcohol, drugs or supplies
- getting in trouble with the law
- taking risks, such as driving high or intoxicated, or taking sexual risks
- work or school performance suffering due to using before, during or after work or class
- Missing work or school due to substance use
- experiencing blackouts (periods of time when using that can't be remembered)
- experiencing mood swings
- depressed, hopeless or suicidal feelings
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