Psychoactive substances are substances that, when ingested or administered into the system, affect mental processes. This term and its equivalent, psychotropic drug, are the most neutral and descriptive terms for the entire class of substances, legal and illicit, of interest to drug policy. The Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) includes in Chapter V a detailed classification of more than 300 mental and behavioral disorders. Its publication follows extensive field tests conducted by more than 100 clinical and research centers in 40 countries. Addiction is a chronic recurrent disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.
It is defined as an inability to stop using a substance or to engage in behavior even though it is causing psychological and physical harm. Such changes can last long after a person has stopped using drugs. In ICD 11, “gambling disorder” is included in the categories and diagnostic terms. Prevention efforts and treatment approaches to addiction are often as successful as those for other chronic diseases. Anyone who uses substances, including socially, should consult them with a doctor to ensure their safe use and monitor signs or symptoms of addiction.
Addiction counselors include “Substance Abuse Counselors (SAC)”, Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC), and “Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC).Some addictions also involve an inability to stop participating in activities such as playing, eating, or working. Receive updates from ASAM on CME, online education and events on a variety of addiction-related topics. In experimental research, it was found that the word “abuser” increases stigma, which can affect the quality of care and act as a barrier to seeking treatment in people suffering from addiction. Therefore, only people with previous positive experiences with a substance or activity are vulnerable to developing an addiction. It is due to the appearance of goosebumps on the skin that is often observed in addicted people when they are physiologically withdrawn from a substance.
The percentage of addicts receiving treatment who achieve abstinence or remission after treatment within a set period of time (e.g., six months) is known as the “success rate”.The world is changing, and you may find that getting help for your addiction is the best thing you can do for yourself. The front door hypothesis postulates that the use of a certain drug increases the risk of further use of more potent and addictive or harmful drugs. As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. A board-certified physician as a psychiatrist with specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment and management of addictions can provide valuable insight into addiction. According to the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction is a primary, chronic neurobiological disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors that influence its development and manifestation. At the same time, there is increasing recognition of the role of prevention and harm reduction in the spectrum of addiction and recovery.
A characterization of residents' opposition to a development proposal within their local area, such as addiction treatment centers or harm reduction programs can be useful in understanding how to best approach these issues.
