Substance Use, Misuse and Dependency
What is Substance use? • Use of alcohol or drugs occasionally without being addicted however comes with the risk that it can lead to addiction.
What is Substance misuse? • Regular use of alcohol or drugs which may be causing issues in your life that may affect your job, personal life, or even your safety. People who misuse drugs and alcohol often do it regardless of the consequences.
What is Substance dependency?• Also known as addiction. Symptoms of substance dependency include developing a tolerance for the drug, going through withdrawal symptoms without it, and struggling to cut back on it. There are many factors that can influence whether someone is dependent or addicted to drugs or alcohol, including socio-cultural, psychological and biological factors.
To be clear, someone can use substances and not be addicted or even have a substance use disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
When is it harmful?
Health officials consider substance use as crossing the line into substance abuse/addiction if that repeated use causes significant impairment, such as:
Health issues
Disabilities
Failure to meet responsibilities
Impaired control
Risky use
Social issues
In other words, if you drink enough to get frequent hangovers; use enough drugs that you miss work or school; smoke enough marijuana that you have lost friends; or often drink or use more than you intended to use, your substance use is probably at the abuse level. We at Hartwell Counselling are here to provide you with all the support necessary to assist you with recovery.
Is Illegal drugs Dangerous?
Generally, when most people talk about substance abuse, they are referring to the use of illegal drugs. Drugs of abuse do more than alter your mood. They can cloud your judgment, distort your perceptions, and alter your reaction times, all of which can put you in danger of accident and injury. These drugs are illegal for a reason; they can be potentially addictive and can cause severe negative health effects.
The most common illegal drugs in Canada
Crystal Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Hallucinogens
Ecstasy or Molly
Heroin
Is recreational use abusive?
Others argue that casual, recreational use of some drugs is not harmful and is merely use, not abuse. The most vocal of the proponents of recreational drug use are those who smoke marijuana. They argue that marijuana is not addictive and has many beneficial qualities, unlike the "harder" drugs. But recent research has shown that even marijuana may have more harmful effects than was first believed. Each year, new scientific studies find more ways that long-term marijuana use is harmful to your health. The myth that marijuana is not addictive has been debunked. Every one in seven marijuana users become dependent.
A word from Hartwell Counselling
Has your substance use become harmful? If you think this may be true for you, you are certainly not alone. According to the latest estimates, about 27.1 million people —approximately one in every 10 people—are current substance abusers.
Are you hesitant to seek help for your substance use? Again, you are not alone. In 2015, an estimated 21.7 million people needed substance use treatment, but only 3 million actually received any treatment.
If you have tried to quit or cut back on your own and found you were not able to do so, please consider reaching out to the therapists at Hartwell Counselling. We have over 20 years of experience helping those who have and were struggling with substance abuse. Learn more at our website: Hartwellcounselling.com