Substance use disorders and addictions

The American Psychiatric Association defines substance use disorders (SUD) as a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences 1 . On the other hand, the term drug addiction has been defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences 2 . According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), major substances and substance types include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, inhalants, tranquilizers, and sedatives. The term addiction, in general, not only encompasses compulsive substance use, but also includes various behavioral addictions such as internet addiction, sexual addiction, compulsive shopping, and food addiction 3 . Addictions, both drug and behavioral addictions, are a major public health concern, affecting people’s health and well-being at all ages, and the symptoms of SUD and related addictions can be physiological, behavioral, or cognitive in nature, and they can range from moderate to severe 4 . It is also known that SUDs and behavioral addictions tend to co-occur, and both are associated with mental health problems 5 .