Screening and Assessment for Substance Abuse While there is no one test that establishes the diagnosis of a substance use disorder with certainty, there are screening tools, including online tests, that may help identify people who are at risk for having a substance use problem. Therefore, health-care professionals assess this group of illnesses by gathering thorough mental-health, medical, and family information. The practitioner will also likely ask that the individual's primary-care doctor perform a physical exam, including lab tests to assess the person's medical health and to explore whether or not the individual has a medical condition that can produce the same symptoms as a mental-health problem. Exploring the presence of mental-health symptoms includes determining if the person has a substance use disorder, a mood disorder like depression and/or mania or anxiety, or if he or she suffers from the hallucinations or delusions associated with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic disorders. The possible presence of a personality or behavior disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also usually explored. Practitioners may use a quiz or self-test as a screening tool for substance-use disorders.  SLIDESHOW Alcohol Abuse: 12 Health Risks of Chronic Heavy DrinkingSee Slideshow 7/9 What Is the Treatment for Substance Abuse? Most substance abusers believe they can stop using drugs on their own, but the majority who try do not succeed. Before treatment for the addictive behavior can be directly addressed, the substance abuse sufferer might need help in lessening physical withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs they have been using. That initial phase of treatment is called detoxification or "detox." It often requires inpatient hospital treatment. Research shows that long-term drug use alters brain function and strengthens compulsions to use drugs. This craving continues even after drug use stops. Because of these ongoing cravings, the most important component of treatment, also called recovery, is preventing relapse. Treating substance abuse often requires treatment in a rehabilitation (rehab) program and depends on both the person and the substance being used. In behavioral treatment, a counselor (like a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, or nurse practitioner) provides strategies to cope with drug cravings and ways to avoid relapse. Treatment often includes individual and group therapy. Once they have performed a thorough assessment of someone's condition, a doctor or nurse practitioner may prescribe medications, such as nicotine patches and methadone, to control withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. Random drug testing is often an integral part of encouraging the person with substance abuse problems to refrain from further drug use. Drug-abuse hotlines can be an invaluable resource for people to initiate treatment and prevent relapse. Often, a drug user has an underlying behavioral disorder or other mental illness, one that increases the risk of substance abuse. When an individual suffers from a substance use disorder in addition to another mental-health disorder, he or she is referred to as having a dual diagnosis. Such disorders must be treated medically and through counseling along with treatment of the drug abuse. 8/9 How Can You Prevent Substance Abuse? Substance abuse may start in childhood or adolescence. Abuse prevention efforts in schools and community settings now focus on school-age groups. Programs seek to increase communication between parents and their children, to teach resistance skills, and to provide information in order to correct children's misperceptions about cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs and the consequences of their use. Most importantly, officials seek to develop, through education and the media, an environment of social disapproval of drug use from children's peers and families. 9/9 What Is the Prognosis for Substance Abuse? Individuals who suffer from substance abuse tend to be more successful in recovery when they are highly motivated to be in treatment, are actively engaged in their own recovery, and receive intensive treatment services. Prognosis for substance abuse recovery is further improved by being able to easily access community-based social supports. Costs to society As of 2006, officials estimated that alcohol and drug abuse in the U.S. cost more than $246 billion. Some important facts about the negative impact of drug and alcohol use in the United States are as follows: Crime: More than half of the economic cost of alcohol and other drugs is due to crime. A substance abuser is 18 times more likely to be involved in illegal activity than someone who does not abuse alcohol or other drugs. Many violent crimes have been linked to the mind-altering effects of drugs. Substance abusers often commit thefts to support their drug habits. Drugs and alcohol have been linked to domestic violence and sexual assault. At colleges, 75% of date rapes are alcohol-related. Among jailed sex offenders, 43% say they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime. Disease: Most abused substances have harmful health effects. For some substances, such as tobacco, effects are caused by long-term use. For other drugs, a single use can cause death, disability, or significant disease. Behavior: In addition to their direct effects on health, drugs produce other indirect effects. Many drugs lessen inhibitions and increase the likelihood that a person will participate in risky behavior. Studies show that the use of alcohol and drugs among teenagers increases chances for teen pregnancy and contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Any injected drug is associated with contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C. Trauma: Up to 75% of injured people treated at emergency departments test positive for illicit or prescription drugs. Alcohol is strongly associated with both intentional and unintentional injury. Drug use also puts people at risk of violence. Nearly half of assault victims are cocaine users. References SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELATED ARTICLES Suicidal Thoughts Drug Abuse Slideshow Pain Medications Teen Girls Tricky Issues CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR RELATED SLIDESHOW About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy ©1996-2019 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. SAARAL DE ADDICTION AND PSYCHIATRY HOSPITAL the Best Alcohol Deaddiction Centre In Dharapuram. Alcohol Rehabilitation Centres In Dharapuram, Rehabilitation Centre For Alcohol In Dharapuram, De Addiction Centres In Dharapuram, Alcohol De Addiction Centres In Dharapuram, Alcohol Deaddiction Doctors In Dharapuram, Drug De Addiction Centres In Dharapuram, Rehabilitation centres in Dharapuram