Substances such as drugs, legal or prohibited, can cause negative effect on people depending on how these are being used and taken (Johnson, 2003). People of different background and condition have access to these substances, which may lead to misuse if not properly handled (Emmelkamp & Vedel, 2006). The latest version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) identifies two major problems with drug usage and these are substance abuse and substance dependence (Braun, 1996).
There are various reasons behind people’s abuse and dependence on illicit drugs or substances (Ruiz, Strain & Langrod, 2007). However, there is a substantial difference between the two (Keegan, Moss & Benderly 2008). The American Psychiatric Association (2000) defines substance abuse as a “maladaptive pattern of substance use” characterized by repeated and continuous use of substance resulting in unfavorable condition like stress and other behavioral disturbances.
For a case to be classified as Substance Abuse, the individual must be able to meet certain criteria within a year (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The criteria include failure to perform major day-to-day obligations as well as being caught up in situations that do not normally come about like being arrested or seeing accidents due to abuse of substance (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
Most of all, despite of encountering personal and social substance-related conflicts, the individual’s use of substance is still persistent and continual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Meanwhile, Keegan, Moss and Benderly (2008) defines substance dependence as a more critical state of substance use, wherein the individual loses control of taking substances leading to serious psychological problems and physical violence.
Chronic intake of substance in larger amounts with regular increase of dosage marks substance dependence according to American Psychiatric Association (2000). The person becomes heavily dependent on the drugs and there is a strong drive to get hold of the substance regardless of whatever it takes (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In the ladder of negative condition of substance use, substance dependence is a step higher than substance abuse. Substance abuse changes the person’s mood and rationality, while Substance dependence brings a person to a heightened state or euphoria.
Substance dependence exhibits the criteria for substance abuse, but the latter should not meet the criteria of the former (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), albeit substance abuse can easily develop into substance dependence (Keegan, Moss & Benderly, 2008).
References
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (4th ed). Virginia: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc Braun, S. (1996). Buzz: the science and lore of alcohol and caffeine. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Emmelkamp, P. & Vedel, E. (2006). Evidence-based Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Johnson, S. (2003). Therapist’s Guide to Substance Abuse Intervention. California: Elsevier Science. Keegan, K; Moss, H. and Benderly, B. (2008). Chasing the High: a firsthand account of one young person’s experience with substance abuse. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. Ruiz, P. , Strain, E. & Langrod, J. (2007). The Substance Abuse Handbook. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.