Table of Content<\/h2>\n\n- What is substance abuse?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- What is substance Addiction?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Difference between abuse and addiction on basis of symptoms<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Conclusion<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/section>\nWhat is substance abuse?<\/h2>\n
Substance abuse or drug abuse is a patterned use of a drug in which the user uses the legal or illegal drug in amounts or with methods which are harmful to them and others. WHO (World Health Organization) refers to substance abuse as a harmful use of substances like illicit drugs and alcohol which later leads to dependence syndrome.<\/p>\n
Consuming illegal drugs is generally considered as abuse. But, your relationship with the legal drugs becomes an abuse when you:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Start overusing them
\n\u2022 Consuming them in high quantity
\n\u2022 Ingest them for the purpose other than their original intent
\n\u2022 Develop dependence<\/p>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_What-is-substance-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Back To Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\nWhat is addiction?<\/h2>\n
Substance addiction or drug addiction is a health condition which affects a person’s brain and behavior. It is a multi-layered psycho-social phenomenon. PubMed Health defines drug addiction as existence of both psychological dependence and physical dependence on at least one illicit substance like marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, heroin or even prescription drugs.<\/p>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_what-is-addicartion_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Types of substance abuse or drug abuse<\/h2>\nA. Prescription drug abuse<\/h3>\n
Prescription drug abuse means using a prescribed drug for non-medical purposes or using those drugs which were not prescribed to you or for a different issue.<\/p>\n
The most common prescription drugs which are abused include pain medications like codeine, morphine, methadone, CNS (central nervous system) depressants like Valium, and stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall.<\/p>\n
Dependency on prescription drug abuse is identified by:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Being secretive
\n\u2022 Experiencing withdrawal signs like depression, anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
\n\u2022 Asking for repeat prescriptions before their need.
\n\u2022 Problems at work, legal issues, and finances.
\n\u2022 Feeling the need to increase the dosage
\n\u2022 Taking other medications to reduce the side effects of prescription drug
\n\u2022 Change in blood pressure and appetite
\n\u2022 Facing difficulty while reducing the dosage of the drug<\/p>\n
![\"Prescription](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_Prescription-drug-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
B. Alcohol abuse<\/h3>\n
Well, it is a bit difficult to detect alcohol abuse as it is both legal and socially acceptable. This can happen to anyone despite gender, age or social class. Alcohol affects everyone differently. But, if you are a heavy drinker then, it can affect your liver and can even lead to serious alcohol disorder.<\/p>\n
Even the stats have created differently for men and women to determine whether they are a heavy drinker or not. Like for men drinking four or more drinks in a day or more than fourteen drinks in a week is heavy drinking. And for women, heavy drinking is described as drinking more than three drinks in a day and more than seven in a week.<\/p>\n
Some common signs of alcohol abuse:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Regular drinking more than the intended amount
\n\u2022 Feeling ashamed or guilty about drinking
\n\u2022 Experiencing memory loss because of heavy drinking
\n\u2022 Feeling the need of a drink to relieve stress
\n\u2022 Lying to people about how much you drink<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_alcohol-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
C. Solvent abuse<\/h3>\n
The solvents that are commonly abused are often the fluids found in household items such as aerosol cans like air freshener, hairspray, paints, glue and correcting fluids or fuel canisters. These drugs are inhaled to create a drunk and dizzy effect which last for 15 minutes or until 45 minutes. Further inhaling these solvent causes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hallucinations
\n\u2022 Drowsiness and headache
\n\u2022 Vomiting
\n\u2022 Light-headedness<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Besides, there several other risks associated with this abuse:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Suffocation
\n\u2022 Damage to kidney, liver, and brain
\n\u2022 Poisoning
\n\u2022 Nasal membrane damage
\n\u2022 Becoming too prone to the accident under the influence of solvents
\n\u2022 And even death<\/p>\n
![\"Solvent](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_Solvent-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
D. Illegal drug abuse<\/h3>\n
Illegal drugs like cannabis and heroin have been made illegal because of its adverse effects. Frequent use of these drugs can lead to dependency which later causes a negative effect on mental and physical health.<\/p>\n
People depending on illegal drugs could have:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Felt the need to take the drugs frequently
\n\u2022 Failed attempts at quitting
\n\u2022 Abnormal and irresponsible behavior like stealing<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_Illegal-drug-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
How to prevent substance abuse<\/h2>\n
Substance abuse can affect every aspect of your life and can hurt people around you, your personal relationships and financial health. Further, it also leads to addiction and causes serious health issues and even death. So, to stop this you need to take proper medication and counselling or both to get over this issue. And if you wish to quit then, you can consult a doctor to get the best treatment options.<\/p>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_how-to-prevent-substance-abuse_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Back To Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\nDifference between substance abuse and addiction on different basis<\/h2>\nA. On basis of symptoms<\/h3>\n
Many people will be surprised to know what substance abuse is considered from a health perspective. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services has defined moderate drinking as up to two drinks per day for men and up to one drink per day for women. And anything beyond that is considered an abuse of alcohol which also puts a person at a risk of developing an alcohol addiction.<\/p>\n
The same can happen in the case of prescription drugs when a person takes them in the other way than they were prescribed to get high.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, addiction often signs of serious psychological, physical and social symptoms. Though, all definitions include the same component as the continued use of drugs or alcohol despite the adverse effects. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse stated: \u201cAddiction is defined as a recurring brain disease that is identified by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
B. On basis of mental health<\/h3>\n
As discussed earlier, substance abuse is defined as how a person uses drugs and alcohol while addiction is defined by the physiological and physiological effects of the substance. But, the one of the crucial differences between the two is that abuse is a behaviour while addiction is a mental disorder.<\/p>\n
American Psychological Association has listed components that define addiction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Failed attempt to control substance use
\n\u2022 Use of a substance in a large amount
\n\u2022 Strong urge to use the substance
\n\u2022 Continue use of a substance despite social and personal problems<\/p>\n
In short, this means when a person is addicted he\/she is unable to control his\/her urge to use the substance whether it is an alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drug.<\/p>\n
And when it comes to substance abuse, it is often considered as an individual choice before it transforms into and disorder.<\/p>\n
C. On basis of withdrawal symptoms<\/h3>\n
One of the major signs of addiction is the withdrawal symptom when an addict goes too long without taking drugs or alcohol. Abuse of drugs and alcohol is not necessarily dependent on the withdrawal symptoms as substances can be abused on a recurrent basis without developing a physical dependence. While in contrast, addiction is considered the final step in the development of substance abuse.<\/p>\n
While the signs of withdrawal are completely dependent on the substance use. Still, there are few common signs that we have listed down:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sweating
\n\u2022 Seizures
\n\u2022 Vomiting or nausea
\n\u2022 Abdominal pain
\n\u2022 Shaking of hands
\n\u2022 Hallucinations
\n\u2022 Confusion
\n\u2022 Anger and irritability<\/p>\n
For addicts, these start to show up nearly in 12 to 24 hours after the last consumption of drugs and alcohol. It is absolutely possible that you can abuse a substance without being an addict but if you notice any of these withdrawal signs then, its high time to take this thing seriously as dependence over these substances is a sign that addiction has formed.<\/p>\n
D. On basis of brain health<\/h3>\n
It is very important to note that when a person is addicted to a substance, it completely changes the brain functionality while abuse of drugs and alcohol have a very shorter impact on the body and brain unless the substance is sustained for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n
In short, abuse is the result of various factors which includes pleasurable effects or social pressure to continue using the drugs. While addiction is the result of only one factor which is the dependence of the body and brain on the effects of the substance.<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/zovon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_Difference-between-substance-abuse-and-addiction-on-different-basis_2018_10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
What is substance abuse?<\/h2>\n
Substance abuse or drug abuse is a patterned use of a drug in which the user uses the legal or illegal drug in amounts or with methods which are harmful to them and others. WHO (World Health Organization) refers to substance abuse as a harmful use of substances like illicit drugs and alcohol which later leads to dependence syndrome.<\/p>\n
Consuming illegal drugs is generally considered as abuse. But, your relationship with the legal drugs becomes an abuse when you:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Start overusing them
\n\u2022 Consuming them in high quantity
\n\u2022 Ingest them for the purpose other than their original intent
\n\u2022 Develop dependence<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Back To Top<\/a><\/p>\n Substance addiction or drug addiction is a health condition which affects a person’s brain and behavior. It is a multi-layered psycho-social phenomenon. PubMed Health defines drug addiction as existence of both psychological dependence and physical dependence on at least one illicit substance like marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, heroin or even prescription drugs.<\/p>\n Prescription drug abuse means using a prescribed drug for non-medical purposes or using those drugs which were not prescribed to you or for a different issue.<\/p>\n The most common prescription drugs which are abused include pain medications like codeine, morphine, methadone, CNS (central nervous system) depressants like Valium, and stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall.<\/p>\n Dependency on prescription drug abuse is identified by:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Being secretive Well, it is a bit difficult to detect alcohol abuse as it is both legal and socially acceptable. This can happen to anyone despite gender, age or social class. Alcohol affects everyone differently. But, if you are a heavy drinker then, it can affect your liver and can even lead to serious alcohol disorder.<\/p>\n Even the stats have created differently for men and women to determine whether they are a heavy drinker or not. Like for men drinking four or more drinks in a day or more than fourteen drinks in a week is heavy drinking. And for women, heavy drinking is described as drinking more than three drinks in a day and more than seven in a week.<\/p>\n Some common signs of alcohol abuse:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Regular drinking more than the intended amount The solvents that are commonly abused are often the fluids found in household items such as aerosol cans like air freshener, hairspray, paints, glue and correcting fluids or fuel canisters. These drugs are inhaled to create a drunk and dizzy effect which last for 15 minutes or until 45 minutes. Further inhaling these solvent causes:<\/p>\n \u2022 Hallucinations <\/p>\n Besides, there several other risks associated with this abuse:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Suffocation Illegal drugs like cannabis and heroin have been made illegal because of its adverse effects. Frequent use of these drugs can lead to dependency which later causes a negative effect on mental and physical health.<\/p>\n People depending on illegal drugs could have:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Felt the need to take the drugs frequently Substance abuse can affect every aspect of your life and can hurt people around you, your personal relationships and financial health. Further, it also leads to addiction and causes serious health issues and even death. So, to stop this you need to take proper medication and counselling or both to get over this issue. And if you wish to quit then, you can consult a doctor to get the best treatment options.<\/p>\n Back To Top<\/a><\/p>\n Many people will be surprised to know what substance abuse is considered from a health perspective. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services has defined moderate drinking as up to two drinks per day for men and up to one drink per day for women. And anything beyond that is considered an abuse of alcohol which also puts a person at a risk of developing an alcohol addiction.<\/p>\n The same can happen in the case of prescription drugs when a person takes them in the other way than they were prescribed to get high.<\/p>\n On the other hand, addiction often signs of serious psychological, physical and social symptoms. Though, all definitions include the same component as the continued use of drugs or alcohol despite the adverse effects. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse stated: \u201cAddiction is defined as a recurring brain disease that is identified by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n As discussed earlier, substance abuse is defined as how a person uses drugs and alcohol while addiction is defined by the physiological and physiological effects of the substance. But, the one of the crucial differences between the two is that abuse is a behaviour while addiction is a mental disorder.<\/p>\n American Psychological Association has listed components that define addiction:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Failed attempt to control substance use In short, this means when a person is addicted he\/she is unable to control his\/her urge to use the substance whether it is an alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drug.<\/p>\n And when it comes to substance abuse, it is often considered as an individual choice before it transforms into and disorder.<\/p>\n One of the major signs of addiction is the withdrawal symptom when an addict goes too long without taking drugs or alcohol. Abuse of drugs and alcohol is not necessarily dependent on the withdrawal symptoms as substances can be abused on a recurrent basis without developing a physical dependence. While in contrast, addiction is considered the final step in the development of substance abuse.<\/p>\n While the signs of withdrawal are completely dependent on the substance use. Still, there are few common signs that we have listed down:<\/p>\n \u2022 Sweating For addicts, these start to show up nearly in 12 to 24 hours after the last consumption of drugs and alcohol. It is absolutely possible that you can abuse a substance without being an addict but if you notice any of these withdrawal signs then, its high time to take this thing seriously as dependence over these substances is a sign that addiction has formed.<\/p>\n It is very important to note that when a person is addicted to a substance, it completely changes the brain functionality while abuse of drugs and alcohol have a very shorter impact on the body and brain unless the substance is sustained for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n In short, abuse is the result of various factors which includes pleasurable effects or social pressure to continue using the drugs. While addiction is the result of only one factor which is the dependence of the body and brain on the effects of the substance.<\/p>\nWhat is addiction?<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nTypes of substance abuse or drug abuse<\/h2>\n
A. Prescription drug abuse<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Experiencing withdrawal signs like depression, anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
\n\u2022 Asking for repeat prescriptions before their need.
\n\u2022 Problems at work, legal issues, and finances.
\n\u2022 Feeling the need to increase the dosage
\n\u2022 Taking other medications to reduce the side effects of prescription drug
\n\u2022 Change in blood pressure and appetite
\n\u2022 Facing difficulty while reducing the dosage of the drug<\/p>\n<\/p>\nB. Alcohol abuse<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Feeling ashamed or guilty about drinking
\n\u2022 Experiencing memory loss because of heavy drinking
\n\u2022 Feeling the need of a drink to relieve stress
\n\u2022 Lying to people about how much you drink<\/p>\n<\/p>\nC. Solvent abuse<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Drowsiness and headache
\n\u2022 Vomiting
\n\u2022 Light-headedness<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Damage to kidney, liver, and brain
\n\u2022 Poisoning
\n\u2022 Nasal membrane damage
\n\u2022 Becoming too prone to the accident under the influence of solvents
\n\u2022 And even death<\/p>\n<\/p>\nD. Illegal drug abuse<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Failed attempts at quitting
\n\u2022 Abnormal and irresponsible behavior like stealing<\/p>\n<\/p>\nHow to prevent substance abuse<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nDifference between substance abuse and addiction on different basis<\/h2>\n
A. On basis of symptoms<\/h3>\n
B. On basis of mental health<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Use of a substance in a large amount
\n\u2022 Strong urge to use the substance
\n\u2022 Continue use of a substance despite social and personal problems<\/p>\nC. On basis of withdrawal symptoms<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Seizures
\n\u2022 Vomiting or nausea
\n\u2022 Abdominal pain
\n\u2022 Shaking of hands
\n\u2022 Hallucinations
\n\u2022 Confusion
\n\u2022 Anger and irritability<\/p>\nD. On basis of brain health<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n