Category:Alcohol Drug Use or Induced Mental Disorders

The misuse of alcohol or other drugs, causing negative consequences to one's life and health, are framed as psychoactive substance use disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The disorders fall into two categories: 1) substance dependence, and 2) substance abuse. The latter is a less severe form of substance use disorder. Dependence may be either psychological -- i.e. the person spends a great deal of time thinking about both the substance and what he or she needs to do in order to obtain it -- or physical. Physical dependence means that, when the person discontinues using the substance, there are medical signs of withdrawal which may require medical attention.