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Substance Use Disorders vs Addictive Disorders: A Comprehensive Guide

Written by Zach Miller, Medically Reviewed by Jocelyn Riden January 10, 2025

The terms substance use disorder and addictive disorder have been used synonymously in the past; however, in modern medical parlance, especially in discussions on the treatment of addiction in psychology, the two terms are different from each other. Especially for individuals who attempt to free themselves and their loved ones from the world of substance addiction should learn these terms while being on the subconscious level. With that in mind, the following blog will provide a closer perspective of these definitions, contrast them, and shed light on how Palm Coast Treatment Solutions can help you identify the right help and treatment for substance use and various types of addictions.

Orienting the Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

In simpler terms, it is defined as substance use disorder according to DSM-5, which is a method of protracted utilization of substances, including alcohol, that interferes with life processes. It can be a chain of psychological/affective ‘swings’ or shifts in behavior that could be potentially linked to the use of a specific chemical compound. Diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders include: it could be physical or organic. The production rates are variable, ranging from moderate to severe, as well as the rate of use; diagnosis of this disorder entails the number of criteria met by the client. The ten diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders include:

  1. Impaired control: Described in association with the inability to reduce the consumption of said product and the inability to limit the use of the given product.
  2. Social impairment: Violations of responsible roles assumed in paid, parent or family, and academic roles because of substance use.
  3. Risky use: With physically hostile environmental conditions, taking the substance through.
  4. Pharmacological criteria: A prerequisite to have the substance in one’s life, or, put in other words, fit into the lifestyle.
  5. Withdrawal: This off-flavor nutritional substance in use: The result is if this average is ever withdrawn, then one experiences inflammations and worse withdrawal symptoms.
  6. Preoccupation: Be engaged with a lot of processes that are associated with getting, using, and once using the substance.
  7. Compulsions: The act of maintaining the administering of a substance when one determines, perceives or becomes aware of the negative impacts, or impact that is deemed to occur when one abstains from the substance.
  8. Repeated relapses: Consistent in a cyclical approach all the time, even when a person has never had an opportunity to get admitted for substance use disorder treatment.
  9. Continued use despite adverse consequences: Continued use of a substance even when the person knows they have or have had a condition thought to be as a result of the substance.
  10. Craving: Sexual passion is a want or desire to have the substance in the human body.

Addictive Disorder

On the other hand, the addictive disorder is a broad spectrum that describes mental illness by defining a person’s obsession with the rewarding feeling despite knowing that such action is utterly destructive. Such behaviors may include substance use, gambling, sex, shopping, internet use, etc. Addictive disorders are characterized by:

Addictive Disorder

  1. Loss of control: The thing that is regularly associated with a failure to stop or at least decrease the mentioned action, though the person feels a need to control this action.
  2. Preoccupation: Paying attention to a particular behavior and then performing the particular behavior that much more.
  3. Withdrawal: Suffer if the person in question does not continue the behavior/to feel some sort of pain.

The differentiation between substance use disorder and addictive disorder

Although substance use disorder and addictive disorder may share several similarities, there are distinct differences:

  1. Scope: Addicted disorders, however, involve dependency on a substance, but they also include other things that the person is dependent on.
  1. Diagnostic criteria: Substance use disorders have well-defined diagnostic criteria, while the criteria do not apply to addictive disorders and this is a reason that distinguishes DSM-5 substance use disorders from other addictive disorders.
  1. Treatment: The services that are provided to such patients include detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, and various types of therapies. However, the treatment for the addictive disorders will depend on the nature of this behavior and may not involve procedures such as drug and alcohol withdrawal.

The distinctions between substance use disorder and addictive disorder need to be made in the following points made below.

Despite their differences, substance use disorders and addictive disorders share some commonalities:

  1. Compulsive behavior: In both diseases, the patient becomes powerless in the affair, which results in the patient craving to do a certain act.
  1. Negative consequences: Any of the two conditions creates enormous chain reactions in the whole life of the person, most of which are social, work, and health-related.
  1. Helplessness: Ideally, as often enough, substance use or addictive disorder patients feel against hope with the belief that they will never overcome it.

Substance Use Disorder vs. Drug Addiction: Is There a Difference?

Individuals have always equated the two terms: substance use disorder and drug addiction. However, substance use disorder is a clinical one, and it describes a natural kind that defines a mental/emotional sign or symptoms or behaviors that can be received to result from substances, alcohol, or drugs. Drug addiction could further be defined as drug addiction, which is a kind of addiction that is something with preoccupancy with using it. Both of them cite a chronic periodic illness of the brain that compels the users to desire drugs and also engage in taking illegal substances.

Why Substance Use and Addictive Disorders Require Help

These disorders have health-related effects that have a direct effect on the general well-being of the addict physically, mentally, and emotionally. If these disorders and imbalances are not treated, they have severe consequences, leading to fatal, tragic situations, critical illnesses, and strains in the relationship. Such persons should therefore endeavor to overcome such difficulties and fully rehabilitate.

Substance Use and Addictive Disorders Require Help

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