When you think of people with a substance use disorder, you probably imagine someone who is constantly high. That’s only part of the story of substance abuse, however. Someone can have a substance use disorder without ever taking that first hit or drink. 

There are many ways to develop a substance use disorder. The statistics vary depending on which substance we’re talking about but they all have one thing in common, the risk increases if you start using at a young age, or if you have friends who also use substances heavily. That doesn’t mean that anyone who uses these substances has an altered state of mind or will be unable to function as an adult. 

• What is a substance use disorder?

A substance use disorder is a condition that is characterized by the frequent use of a drug, regardless of the desired effects. A person might use drugs or alcohol to feel better, or they might use them to relieve stress or anxiety. 

However, the more someone uses a drug, the more likely they are to develop a substance use disorder. Substance use disorders are treatable, but they can be difficult to overcome. You can get help from substance use disorder Lexington KY to manage your use and reduce harm to yourself.

• Alcohol abuse and dependence

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcohol abuse as drinking in a way that endangers your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others around you. 

It also includes drinking in a way that causes you problems in your relationships and your work or school life. When does this become alcohol dependence? When the negative effects of drinking, or "withdrawal" symptoms kick in when you don’t have alcohol in your system.

• Drug abuse and dependence

The "abuse" part of drug abuse is similar to alcohol abuse. Drug abuse is when you use a substance in a way that endangers your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others. 

Drug dependence is when you have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have the substance in your system. And just like alcohol dependence, a drug dependence diagnosis is made if the negative effects of going without the substance kick in before the effects of the drug are gone.

• Marijuana abuse and dependence

Like all other substances, marijuana abuse and dependence are diagnosed when the negative effects of use "kick in" before the desired effects have worn off. 

That means you have an abuse disorder if you use marijuana in a way that endangers your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others. And you have a dependence disorder if you have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have the substance in your system.

The takeaway is that being young and drinking or using drugs doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a substance use disorder. Millions of people do exactly that and they don’t progress to an altered state of mind at all. 

What these statistics tell us is that the risk increases if you start using at a young age or if you have friends who also use substances heavily. Thanks to substance use disorder Lexington KY, treatment of this problem is possible now.