Substance misuse

Substance use is use of alcohol or drugs occasionally without being addicted. Substance use comes with the risk that it can lead to addiction.

Substance misuse refers to the use of psychoactive substances in a way that is harmful or hazardous to health. For example, regular use of alcohol or drugs which may be causing issues in their life that may affect their job, personal life, or even their safety. People who misuse drugs and alcohol do it regardless of the consequences.

Alcohol dependence is the most common form of substance misuse. Other drugs in this category, include (but are not limited to):

• heroin
• cocaine
• crack
• cannabis
• misuse of glue and aerosols

The use of substances can lead to dependency where problems develop, these problems can be:

• cognitive (thinking, perception, memory etc)
• behavioural (how we behave) 
• physiological (how our bodies function).

This results in:

• a strong desire to take the drug
• difficulties in controlling use
• persisting in its use despite harmful consequences
• a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations
• increased tolerance and therefore a higher dosage to achieve the same feelings
• sometimes a physical withdrawal state. (WHO, 2017)

What is substance dependency?

Substance dependency is 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. This includes sociocultural, psychological, cognitive-behavioural, and biological factors.

The misuse of alcohol, and the use of drugs, can have devastating consequences for the person and for those around them. These issues also carry a significant financial cost to our society – it is estimated that drug misuse costs £19 billion per year, and the harms from alcohol costs £21 billion.

Drugs and alcohol dependence often co-exist with other health and social inequalities, like poor mental health and homelessness.