Substance Abuse Disorders

Abstract

This chapter discusses serious psychological problems that can arise in relation to the use of certain substances. These substances are called psychoactive substances because they can be used to affect moods, thinking, and behavior. In most societies, use of certain substances to modify mood or behavior is regarded as normal and appropriate, and such use may be a valued part of the culture. Customary and social drinking of alcohol as a beverage with meals or to enhance interaction at social gatherings is one example. The ritual use of peyote (a drug obtained from the mescal cactus that produces a variety of vivid visual hallucinations) for religious purposes by Indians in Mexico and the southwestern United States is another example. Further, some psychoactive substances are used for medical purposes under a physician’s prescription to relieve pain, decrease anxiety, or for other appropriate medical purposes. Therefore, this chapter is concerned not with these and other normal and appropriate uses of psychoactive substances, but rather with the use of such substances that is considered pathological largely due to the negative behavioral effects of the substance’s use. Table 1 lists major classes of psychoactive substances that are commonly subject to problematic use. The criteria for determining problematic use of such substances are considered next.