Substance
A substance is anything that can be consumed, injected, inhaled, or otherwise absorbed into the body that has psychoactive (affecting a person’s mood, behavior, or thought patterns) effects. Substances can be legal or illicit, natural or synthesized. Common substances include caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, and opioids. Substances are not necessarily drugs even though the terms are often used synonymously, as there are other things that have psychoactive effects on the brain.
Substance Abuse Disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD), formerly known as drug addiction, is characterized by the inability to self-regulate substance use. Substances that can be responsible for SUD include caffeine, alcohol, stimulants, and opioids. Of these substances, alcohol is the most common cause of SUD due to its legality, and opioids are the most fatal given the high mortality rate of opioid overdoses.
Many substances that can cause substance use disorder work by forcing the release of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical. The feeling granted by releasing dopamine only lasts a short while, which incentivizes the frequent use of the feel-good substance. This results in a cycle of taking substances to chase the dopamine releases, and then taking more to avoid the discomfort of the comedown. People caught in this cycle will often begin deprioritizing their health, relationships, and finances to get more of the substance they’re addicted to.
Substance Intoxication
Intoxication is a state of mental and physical impairment following the consumption of a psychoactive substance. The length of each intoxication period depends on a person’s age, medical history, substance tolerance, and amount taken. Substances that can cause intoxication include alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, opioids, and inhalants. Generally, substances taken in moderation will lead to a temporary period of intoxication that results in little to no negative side effects down the line.
In some cases, overconsumption of substances like alcohol can lead to moderate or severe intoxication. In the case of alcohol, severe intoxication lasts longer, is more intense, and results in more fatal accidents than mild or moderate intoxication. For substances like opioids, however, severe intoxication can result in an opioid overdose, a condition with a much higher mortality rate than alcohol poisoning. While all forms of intoxication have their risks, it is especially important to be cognizant of the dangers of opioid overdoses
Substance Use Disorder
Occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.