Substance-Related Disorders

Overview of the Disorders

Although any teenagers try alcohol or drugs at least once, most stop using them. Some teenagers however, go from experiment to abuse and when they reach the point where using the drug is a need and getting it a priority they have developed a substance-related disorder. Following are three basic types of substance-related disorders:

1. Substance dependence - A pattern of repeated substance use that results in tolerance (need for increasingly larger quantity of the substance), withdrawal (unpleasant physical reactions) and compulsive drug-taking behavior.
2. Substance abuse - A maladaptive pattern of substance abuse that results in recurrent and significant adverse consequences, such as failure to fulfill obligations at work, home or school, use in situations in which it is physically hazardous, legal problems, and social and interpersonal problems.
3. Substance-induced disorder - A mental or physical problems that result solely from the drug's chemical effects on the body. They should disappear within a month or so after substance use has stopped.

Cause: Any child or adolescent with access to alcohol or drugs can potentially develop a substance-related disorder, but some are at greater risk. Genetic vulnerability plays a strong role, and substance disorders run in families. Studies show that teenagers are more likely to develop substance disorders if they have depression, low self-esteem, or the feeling that they don't "fit in" socially.

Treatment: The type of treatment depends upon the severity of the problem. For example, a hospital setting may be necessary to monitor detoxification. Other interventions include a 12-Step Alcoholics Anonymous teen program, residential group home settings, partial hospitalization or day treatment, and special recreational opportunities, such as wilderness experiences, with supervised activities in a drug-free environment.

Related Articles

The following articles are arranged chronologically, according to the date of publication or last update.

Organizations

Browse through a list of staff-selected organizations and online resources to learn more about Substance-Related Disorders

About the NYU Child Study Center

The New York University Child Study Center is dedicated to increasing the awareness of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders and improving the research necessary to advance the prevention, identification, and treatment of these disorders on a national scale. The Center offers expert psychiatric services for children, adolescents, young adults, and families with emphasis on early diagnosis and intervention. The Center's mission is to bridge the gap between science and practice, integrating the finest research with patient care and state-of-the-art training utilizing the resources of the New York University School of Medicine. The Child Study Center was founded in 1997 and established as the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry within the NYU School of Medicine in 2006. For more information, please call us at (212) 263-6622 or visit us at aboutourkids.org.