Substance abuse

Definitions and Perspectives on Substance Abuse

• Substance use viewed from societal and public health perspectives.
• Avoidance of terms like abuse in favor of objective language.
• Recognition of a spectrum of substance use from beneficial to harmful.
• Lack of current medical diagnoses for drug abuse in major diagnostic tools.
• Different perspectives on drug abuse influenced by cultural norms.

Drug Misuse and Public Health Initiatives

• Prescription drug use surpassing illegal drug use in the US.
• Nonmedical prescription drug use among 12th graders second to cannabis.
• Public health initiatives impacting prescription drug misuse rates.
• Decrease in misuse of specific prescription drugs due to interventions.
• Legal classification of drugs into categories based on abuse potential.

Signs, Symptoms, and Impulsivity in Substance Abuse

• Harm rankings and characteristics of different drugs.
• Chronic use leading to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
• Impulsivity associated with substance abuse and loss of impulse control.
• Potential hormonal influences on impulse control during adolescence.
• Screening and assessment importance in diagnosing substance use disorders.

Treatment Approaches and Medication for Substance Abuse

• Psychological interventions like behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
• Evidence-based interventions to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.
• Medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and acamprosate for treatment.
• Established treatments like ecological family-based treatment and group CBT.
• Dual diagnosis treatment for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

Epidemiology and Heroin-assisted Treatment

• Epidemiological data on drug use initiation and disability-adjusted life years.
• Trends in drug-related deaths globally, including increases in the US and decreases in Switzerland.
• Heroin-assisted treatment programs in England, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
• Efficacy of HAT programs in reducing drug-related deaths and fatal outcomes in opiate addiction.
• Importance of integrated treatment for individuals with dual diagnosis.

Substance abuse Data Sources