Substance Abuse and Addiction

What is the difference between substance abuse and addiction?

The difference between substance abuse and addiction is a difference of the level of dependency on a drug or alcohol. 

• Substance Abuse is the use of a  potentially addictive drug in a reckless manner, disregarding the risks and personal consequences.  A person can use drugs like marijuana or alcohol without having an addiction.  For example, just because a person smokes pot a few times doesn't mean that they are addicted, but it does mean they are abusing a drug...and that could lead to an addiction.

• Substance Addiction means a person has no control over whether or not they use a drug or drink alcohol.  The person who is addicted HAS to have it.  Substance addiction starts out as substance abuse... using a drug like marijuana, cocaine, or alcohol. 

When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs, but people can become addicted to all kinds of things like prescription medications, cigarettes, even glue and aerosol sprays.  And some things are more addictive than others.  For example, drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might be used only once or twice before the user loses control.

A person crosses from abuse to addiction when they no longer use the drug to get high or have fun, but they use it because they have to have it.  Their whole life is focused on the drug or the alcohol; they no longer have a choice of using or not using.

What is the big deal about drinking alcohol?

There are some real risks associated with teen drinking that teens should understand.  Here are just some of the risks –

• Drinking alcohol significantly increases the risk that a teen will commit or be a victim of a serious crime, such as assault, rape or murder.

• Alcohol is a contributing factor in over 75% of all date rapes.

• Alcohol significantly increases teens’ risks of death from car crashes and drowning.

• Drinking alcohol increases the likelihood that teens will engage in unprotected sex.  

• Teenagers who drink are more likely to attempt suicide.

• And the list goes on and on… 

Teens often don't know about the risks and simply drink because their friends drink or it just looks like fun.

What are the signs of addiction?

 The most obvious sign of addiction is the overwhelming desire for a particular drug or alcohol, but there are many other signs that suggest a person may have a problem with drugs or alcohol:

• Getting drunk or high on a regular basis

• Withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends

• Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol, or drinking or using drugs alone

• Spending a lot of time figuring out how to get drugs or alcohol

• Having to use more to get the same high

• Taking risks, including sexual risks

• Having "blackouts" (forgetting what you did the night before)

• Having problems with school work

• Stopping activities that used to be important (sports, hanging out with friends)

What can you do if you think you might be addicted to alcohol or drugs?

Recognizing that you may have a problem is the first step to getting better.  

Most people think they can just stop using on their own, but it doesn't work like that for a lot of people.  If you think you have a drinking problem, get help as soon as possible.  The best thing to do is to talk with someone you trust like your parents, your school counselor, favorite teacher, relative, clergy member or pastor.  It might be easier to talk to a friend or someone your own age at first, but it's most helpful to talk with someone who can refer you to an expert in drug and alcohol treatment.

Once you start your journey to quit using, there are some things you can do to make the path a little easier:

• Ask your family and friends to be available when you need them...no questions asked.  If you are going through a stressful time or it’s the middle of the night, you might need to call someone just to talk with you.

• Have a plan for what you will do when you find yourself in a place with alcohol or drugs...and you WILL!  You might be tempted or scared, but if you've already thought out how you are going to handle the situation, you'll be OK.

• Tell your friends about your plan to stop using drugs or alcohol.  Your real friends will support you.  That may mean that you might have to find new friends.  You want to be sure to surround yourself with people who are behind you 100%.  You probably won't feel comfortable hanging out with the same friends you used to have when you used alcohol or drugs.

• Give yourself a break.  Tell yourself that having a problem with drugs or alcohol DOES NOT make you a bad person or a weak person.  You should not be ashamed.  If you slip and lose your place on your journey to recovery, it's important to get help soon so that you don't lose all of the hard work you have put into your recovery.

These things can help but it also might be a good idea to get some extra help from someone who is trained in talking about abuse and addiction.  

You can also call the Teen Link telephone helpline or chat with a counselor online.  Teen Link is a program of the Crisis Center.  Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who is trained to help or to someone who doesn’t know you.

Click (here) for information about Talking with a Counselor

Click (here) for Information about Chatting Online with a Counselor