Ringsend & District Response to Drugs 

Substance use disorders:

 

Substance use disorders span a wide variety of problems arising from substance use, and cover 11 different criteria.

 

1. Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longerthan the your meant to.

2. Wanting to cut down or stop using a substance but not managing to.

3. Spending a lot of time getting, using or recovering from use of the substance

4. Cravings and urges to use the substance

5. Not managing to do what you should at work, home or school, becauise of substance use.

6. Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships.

7. Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use.

8. Using substances again and again even when in puts you in danger.

9. Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that may have been caused or made worse by the substance.

10. Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance).

11. Development of withdrawel symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.

 

The DSM 5 allows clinicians to specify how severe the substance use disorder is, depending on how many symptoms are identified.

 

• Two or three symptoms indicate a mild substance use disorder.

• Four or Five symptoms indicate a moderate substance use disorder.

• Six or more symptoms indictae a severe substance use disorder.