Tag: addiction

  1. Increase risk of substance use disorder and suicide
    1. Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up the brain and nervous system. These drugs can cause and worsen mental health conditions and increase the risk of substance use disorder and suicide. 
  2. Risk of overdose and death
    1. Rising overdose deaths involving illicit stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine (meth) have raised concerns of a stimulant overdose crisis. When used in conjunction with opioids like fentanyl, the risk of overdose and death is even greater. 
  3. Depict dangers and reduce stigma
    1. Storytelling can help reduce the harmful impact of stimulants by spotlighting the dangers of misusing these drugs or combining these drugs with opioids, portraying their long-term negative physical and mental health effects, and reducing stigma around reaching out for help. 

This section was developed using scientific resources available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Storytelling Tips

Diversify Representation
  • Tell a broader range of stories about stimulant misuse and substance use disorder to show the impact across communities. For example, many storylines around prescription stimulant misuse involve young, white males. While this is the audience that most frequently misuses these drugs, there are other audiences with unique risks like Asian Americans and Latinx who are more likely to smoke stimulants, increasing risk of dependency and negative health outcomes. 
  • Use storytelling to shed light on the concerning increases in stimulant overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Native and Indigenous people during the last decade. 
  • Show how, for some communities, stimulants carry risk beyond substance use disorder and overdose. Methamphetamine misuse is associated with a culture of risky sexual behavior, both among men who have sex with men, and straight couples. In addition to addiction and overdose risk, the increased sex coupled with lowered inhibitions and multiple partners raises the risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. 
Show Conversations About Mental Health and Help-Seeking
  • Depict effective family dialogues around substance use, misuse, and substance use disorder. Young people who have good communication with caretakers, including conversations about prescription drug misuse with family members, are less likely to misuse them. Storytelling can help start these conversations. 
  • Work with expert advisors to craft conversations that will be most effective for prevention. Public health research has shown that scare tactics (threat of permanent harm or death) aren’t always effective for deterring some audiences. Instead, it may be more effective to focus on improving school/work performance or other impacts that may resonate better. 
Spotlight Support from Friends and Family
  • Highlight the warning signs of stimulant misuse and substance use disorder to better equip friends and family to identify and support loved ones who are struggling. 
  • Visit the substance use disorder page for common warning signs. 
  • Demonstrate the dangers of sharing prescribed medication. Most misused prescription stimulants are obtained from someone with a prescription. Storytelling can help viewers better understand the health and legal consequences of sharing prescription stimulants. 
Depict Effective, Realistic Help-Seeking and Treatment
  • Highlight the advantages of seeing trained mental health professionals before substance misuse leads to serious consequences. People in the early stages of addiction to drugs that may carry public stigma — like methamphetamine or cocaine — might delay reaching out for help until the situation is severe. Stories that feature characters and cast members getting help before severe consequences occur can encourage viewers to be proactive and avoid damaging outcomes. 
  • Depict accurate treatment options. Currently, there are no approved medications for the treatment of stimulant use disorders and the best available treatment for stimulant use disorders is inpatient or outpatient behavioral therapy with the support of trained mental health professionals. However, researchers are working to develop safe and effective treatments for stimulant use disorders and recent findings suggest that medication can be a promising addition to current treatment approaches. Work with an expert advisor or refer to the Expert Directory  to ensure you are showing the most up-to-date and effective treatment options. 
Highlight the Power of Coping Skills and Self-Care
  • Show self-care and coping strategies that can increase productivity at work or school to provide a more effective alternative to prescription drug misuse. The reason most people give for misusing prescription stimulants involves improving productivity and performance. However, research shows these drugs are more likely to ultimately hinder performance and are not effective study aids. Storytelling can help elevate self-care practices, like healthy sleep patterns and exercising, as more effective approaches. 
Represent the Causes of Mental Health Challenges Accurately
  • Highlight the connection between substance misuse and mental health challenges. People with mental health conditions are more likely to misuse substances and people who misuse substances are more likely to have a mental health condition. Storytelling can help viewers understand the importance of addressing underlying problems to decrease the risk of substance misuse or substance use disorder. 
Consider the Impact of Language
  • Try to avoid terminology that may reinforce the false narrative that substance misuse is a moral failing (like “drug abuse” or “addict”). Instead use language like “he’s misusing prescription drugs” or “she’s experiencing substance use disorder.” Check out the language section for more guidelines on using the right terminology. 
Move Past Stereotypes
  • Represent the impact of substance misuse across different groups and move beyond  stereotypes that suggest these problems only happen to “certain people.” While research gives us a snapshot of who is most frequently using and being harmed by prescription drug misuse, the reality is that substance use disorder and mental health challenges can impact anyone. 
Be Cautious About Overstating and Reinforcing Stigma
  • Show people speaking up and getting help without blame or judgment. Research shows that structural, public, and self-stigma can prevent people struggling with substance use disorder from speaking up and getting help out of fear that they will be blamed or judged, or that it will negatively impact work or relationships. 
Avoid Sharing Potentially Harmful Details
  • Don’t misrepresent the “benefits” of stimulants. Storytelling can inadvertently reinforce the notion that prescription stimulants are effective study aids or weight loss supplements, or romanticize cocaine as a party drug for the rich and famous. Work with advisors and people with lived experience to make sure the perceived benefits of these substances don’t outweigh the negative consequences. 
  • Avoid providing any details in your story that might help viewers obtain, misuse, or hide misuse of stimulants. Storylines that give specifics about how drugs are inappropriately obtained can unintentionally provide a blueprint for people struggling with misuse to obtain these drugs through similar channels. Likewise, both prescription and illicit stimulants can be consumed in ways that can increase negative impact (like smoking prescription stimulants or injecting cocaine) so stories should avoid giving detail that could help viewers replicate these behaviors. 

Snapshot

Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up the brain and central nervous system. They include prescription stimulants (like Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, and Concerta) and illicit stimulants (like methamphetamine, cocaine, synthethic cathinones (known as bath salts). 

Prescription stimulants are medicines generally used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy. They increase alertness, attention, and energy. The primary reason young adults say they misuse prescription stimulants like Adderall is that they want to improve school or work performance, but a review of the research has shown that the misuse of prescription drugs does not improve academic or occupational performance. In fact, there is an inverse relationship between grade point average (GPA) and misuse of prescription stimulants, and students with lower GPAs are more likely to misuse stimulants.

When misused, prescription stimulants can impact mental health and increase the risk for physical health problems and substance use disorders. While prescription stimulants can be effective when used as prescribed for the treatment of ADHD or narcolepsy, and are not generally associated with increased risk of substance use disorder in those patients, prescription stimulant misuse is associated with higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders. 

Misuse of prescription stimulants may also lead to symptoms of psychosis, anger, or paranoia, as well as heart, nerve and stomach problems. While overdose deaths by prescription stimulants alone are rare, misuse can contribute to heart attacks or seizures. Research suggests that prescription stimulants can interfere with healthy sleep patterns (even when the drug is taken in the morning), and sleep problems have been associated with a range of mental health challenges. After long-term misuse, people who misuse prescription stimulants can develop a tolerance, which can lead to higher dosages, more dangerous methods of snorting or smoking the drugs, or turning to other drugs, like sleeping pills, to counteract the stimulant effect. 

Illicit stimulants use can increase the risk for substance use disorders and suicide.

  • Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that is usually snorted or smoked and can cause feelings of euphoria, heightened alertness and senses, and boosted confidence for 15 to 30 minutes. After the high, individuals may experience a crash where they may feel exhausted, depressed, and irritable, with increased urges to use more of the drug. 
  • The mental health impacts of cocaine use may include behavior that can negatively impact relationships, work, or school; confusion, anxiety, and depression; losing touch with reality; and substance use disorder.
  • Methamphetamine (also called meth, speed, crank) is a stimulant drug with powerful and dangerous effects on the central nervous system. The drug can be smoked, snorted, taken orally, and injected, and it increases sexual arousal and causes feelings of euphoria, increased confidence, and increased alertness for 6 to 12 hours. Coming down off the drug can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion, so some people will take the drug for days in a row without food or sleep. (This is sometimes called binging or tweaking). 
  • Mental health risks of methamphetamine use can include irritability, confusion, anger, and delusions. It may also increase risk for suicide or mental health conditions, including substance use disorder. 

While overdose prevention efforts have been focused heavily on the opioid crisis in recent years, experts and government agencies are also concerned about a stimulant overdose crisis. A 2019 study estimates that over 45% of all of all drug overdose deaths involve illicit stimulants, and from 2012 through 2019, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine increased more than sixfold and overdose deaths involving cocaine more than tripled.

Because illicit stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine are not regulated, dealers often mix them with other things to increase profit. This could include “fillers,” like cornstarch or talcum powder, or other drugs like amphetamines or synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) that can increase risk of dependency, physical health issues, mental health challenges, substance use disorder, and overdose.

Facts & Stats: Prescription Stimulants

Almost 7% (16 million) of adults in the United States use prescription stimulants annually. 69% of adults (about 11 million) using these stimulants have a prescription. 
Young adults ages 18 to 25 are most likely to misuse prescription stimulants, and college students are twice as likely to misuse these drugs as non-students. Adolescents and teenagers are more likely to report using prescription stimulants for recreational purposes. Young adults and college students are more likely to use them for academic or occupational performance.
White people are most likely to misuse prescription stimulants, and Black people have the lowest incidence of prescription stimulant misuse compared to all ethnic groups. Men are more likely to misuse prescription stimulants than women; however, women are more likely than men to use them for weight loss.
Deaths involving methamphetamines more than quadrupled among non-Hispanic Native and Indigenous peoples from 2011 to 2018.
Misused prescription stimulants are most often obtained from a friend with a prescription; the second most common means is purchasing it from someone. 35% of college students with a prescription say they’ve been approached for stimulants, 20% shared stimulants for free, and 9% shared stimulants for money. 
Misuse of prescription stimulants like Adderall is most common among young adults looking to improve school or work performance — but data shows the drugs are often ineffective for those purposes, and can increase risk of physical health problems, mental health challenges, and substance use disorder. 

Facts & Stats: Illicit Stimulants

A 2019 study estimates that over 45% of all drug overdose deaths involved illicit stimulants. 
From 2012 through 2018, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine more than tripled. 
From 2012 through 2018, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine increased more than fivefold. Native and Indigenous people had the highest rates of methamphetamine use, followed by non-Hispanic white people. Non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic people had relatively low rates of methamphetamine use, while non-Hispanic Black people had the lowest rates.
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  1. Category includes Xanax and Valium
    1. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are a class of drugs including prescription sedatives, like Xanax and Valium.
  2. Concerns over how benzos are prescribed
    1. Experts are growing increasingly concerned about how these drugs are prescribed for mental health challenges like anxiety and insomnia, the length of time for which benzos are used, and potential fatalities caused by mixing benzos with alcohol or opioids.
  3. Accurate portrayal is key
    1. Storytelling can help reduce the harmful impact of benzodiazepine misuse by accurately portraying the intended use and risks of these drugs, educating medical professionals and patients on the dangers of these controlled substances, and dispelling the myth — especially among youth — that benzos are a safe way to self-medicate or relax.

This section was developed using scientific resources available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Storytelling Tips

Diversify Representation
  • Tell a broader range of stories that show how misuse of benzodiazepines can affect people of all backgrounds. For example, benzodiazepines are most often prescribed to older individuals who are also at higher risk for accidents/falls or even suicide-related to using these drugs. Telling these less visible stories can help make viewers more aware of the importance of supporting loved ones who might be at risk.  
Show Conversations About Mental Health and Help-Seeking
  • Depict effective family dialogues around misuse of benzodiazepines.
  • Studies show that teens who have learned about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs from their parents or grandparents are over 40% less likely to misuse prescription drugs than teens who did not talk about this issue. Storytelling can help start these conversations. 
Spotlight Support from Friends and Family
  • Highlight loved ones who spot the warning signs of misuse of benzodiazepines to better equip friends and family to notice someone struggling in their own lives. Visit the substance use disorder page for common warning signs. 
Depict Effective, Realistic Help-Seeking and Treatment
  • Highlight the importance of seeing a trained mental health professional when using prescription benzodiazepines. A high percentage of people who receive benzodiazepine prescriptions get them from a primary care physician rather than from a mental health professional, which some experts believe can contribute to misuse. While primary care physicians can play an important role in recognizing and providing support for mental health challenges, it can be helpful for people to work with a specialized mental health professional, particularly when using medication to treat their symptoms.
  • Show people getting treatment before reaching the point of crisis. Stories about treatment for substance use disorder involving benzodiazepines sometimes center on the moment a character or cast member hits rock bottom or overdoses. Seeking help earlier can reduce the chances of long-term health consequences. 
  • Depict the importance of getting professional support when trying to end benzodiazepine misuse. Stopping benzodiazepines abruptly or reducing the dosage too quickly can result in acute withdrawal reactions, including seizures, which can be life-threatening.
Highlight the Power of Coping Skills and Self-Care
  • Highlight self-care and coping strategies that are more effective than misusing prescription drugs. The reason most people give for misusing benzodiazepines is to “relax or relieve tension.” However, the misuse of these drugs can lead to serious mental health issues and long-term negative health outcomes. Stories can spotlight more effective coping strategies. 
Represent the Causes of Mental Health Challenges Accurately
  • Highlight the connection between substance misuse and mental health challenges, and the reality that people can become dependent on these drugs after they are prescribed by doctors for legitimate physical or mental health issues. 
  • Stigma around substance use disorder is sometimes rooted in the belief that people are choosing to misuse drugs to have fun or because they lack discipline. This stigma can prevent people from getting help. 
Consider the Impact of Language
  • Avoid using terminology that may reinforce the false narrative that substance misuse is a moral failing on part of the person (like “drug abuse” or “addict”). Instead use language like “he’s misusing prescription drugs” or “she has a substance use disorder.” Check out the language section for more guidelines on using the right terminology. 
Move Past Stereotypes
  • While research gives us a snapshot of who is most frequently using and being harmed by prescription drug misuse, the reality is that substance use disorder and mental health challenges can impact anyone. It’s important to move past the stereotypes about who may misuse benzodiazepines to counteract the belief that these problems happen to “other people.”
Avoid Sharing Potentially Harmful Details
  • Avoid providing any details in your story that might help viewers hide misuse of prescription drugs, or obtain or use them for the wrong reasons. Storylines that give specifics about how benzodiazepines are inappropriately obtained can unintentionally provide a blueprint for people struggling with misuse to obtain these drugs through similar channels. Avoid showing characters or cast members sharing prescription medications without consulting a trained medical professional. 
  • Don’t overemphasize the “benefits” of misusing benzodiazepines. Audience members who are facing mental health challenges and looking for a way to “escape” may retain only the positive messaging around these drugs and not the risks and associated negative outcomes. 

Snapshot

Benzodiazepines (sometimes called benzos) increase the effect of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain as a way to calm or sedate an individual. Common benzos include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin). These drugs are generally prescribed for short-term use of weeks or months.

Experts are growing concerned about the length of time benzodiazepines are being used by patients. Usage of benzos is associated with cognitive problems, increased risk of dementia, and can lead to an increased risk of suicide. Nevertheless, half of all patients receiving benzodiazepines in 2018 received them for two months or longer. When discontinued suddenly, benzodiazepines also present the risk of strong withdrawal symptoms and can cause seizures and death. 

While benzodiazepines themselves carry a lower overdose rate than some other substances, overdoses related to these drugs increased 100% over eightfold from 1999 to 2019 — and there’s particular concern around fatalities caused by mixing benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioids. A study found that up to 17% of patients who are prescribed opioids also receive benzodiazepines.

The mental health community is particularly concerned about the way that benzodiazepine use has entered popular culture through lyrics about Xanax in popular songs and casual references to drugs on social media. Rates for benzos increased 50% for youth from 2005 to 2019.

Given the risks associated with benzodiazepines, some mental health professionals recommend other therapies that are equally as effective as benzodiazepines, if not more so, but without the dangers. Benzodiazepines should only be used — if at all — as short-term therapeutic support as part of a larger treatment plan that involves psychotherapy and safer medications, like antidepressants when needed.

Facts & Stats

Most people who misuse benzodiazepines obtain them from friends or relatives, with only about 20% receiving them from their doctor.
Among people who misuse benzodiazepine, 46% report that the motivation for their most recent misuse is to relax or relieve tension, followed by helping with sleep (22.4%), getting high or being “hooked” (12%), and experimentation (6%).
Racial/ethnic minority groups are more likely to receive just one benzodiazepine prescription for short-term usage, while white patients are most likely to receive more than 18 or more prescriptions or refills.

Need more guidance on depicting substance misuse? Browse the expert directory >

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  1. Understanding substance use disorder
    1. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) — previously called substance abuse and/or addiction — occurs when a person’s use of alcohol or drugs contributes to health issues or interferes with work, school, or home life.
  2. Increased risk of suicide
    1. Misusing substances like alcohol and prescription drugs can cause symptoms of or worsen mental health conditions and increase risk for suicide.
  3. Empower viewers with accurate depictions in storytelling
    1. Portraying the risk and protective factors for substance misuse accurately can empower viewers to help themselves and their loved ones.

Storytelling Tips

Portray a Range of Mental Health Experiences
  • Show the connection between substance use disorder and other conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
  • Understanding this connection could help individuals and families find the best treatment options. 
Diversify Representation
  • Help viewers understand that substance use disorders can impact anyone, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, and occupation. 
  • Depictions of addictive behaviors and substance misuse in film and television that reinforce stereotypes by race, socioeconomic status, and occupation can prevent people from seeing their own experiences represented and seeking help when they need it.
Depict Effective, Realistic Help-Seeking and Treatment
  • When depicting inpatient or residential treatment for these disorders, talk to advisors and those with lived experience to ensure you are accurately depicting the treatment process. 
  • Treatment for substance use disorder can be complicated, and many patients will try different treatment options and may relapse frequently. 
Represent the Complex Causes of Mental Health Challenges
  • Explore the factors that can contribute to substance use disorders, including drugs like opioids, which can cause physical dependence.
  • The perception that substance use disorder is entirely genetic, or that it’s completely a behavioral problem, can prevent people already struggling with these issues from identifying the right solutions.
Consider the Impact of Language
  • Be cautious of terminology that defines someone’s identity based on a mental health challenge like substance use disorder. 
  • The mental health field has shifted from using language like “addict” and “abuse,” in order to destigmatize substance use disorder and to encourage conversation and help-seeking.
  • Terms like “addict” are often still used in non-clinical settings and may be required for authenticity in your story, but also look for opportunities to use more up-to-date terminology like “he or she has a substance use disorder” rather than “he or she is an addict.”
Avoid Sharing Potentially Harmful Details
  • Avoid showing substance use unless necessary for your storyline, and consult with advisors to make sure you are doing it as safely as possible.
  • Depictions of drug usage can be triggering for people who are struggling with substance use disorder or are in recovery.
  • It’s also important to avoid narratives about how people obtain substances or hide their usage, which can create a blueprint for others experiencing issues related to substances or considering substance use. 
  • If your story visualizes seemingly “positive” impacts of substances (like calm or relaxed states), make sure to also visualize the negative impacts on health and quality of life.

Snapshot

The DSM-5, the authoritative guide used to diagnose psychiatric disorders, uses the term “substance use disorder” in place of “substance abuse.” Accordingly, the mental health field has moved away from stigmatizing language such as “abuse” and “addict,” to terms like “substance use disorder” and what’s known as person-first language like “person with addiction.” There is also an additional category in the Addictive Disorders section of the DSM-5 labeled “Non-Substance-Related Disorders,” which currently only refers to gambling use disorder.

There are nine substances associated with substance use disorder: alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, phencyclidine (PCP) inhalants, opioids, sedatives/hypnotics/anxiolytics, stimulants, tobacco, and a category of unknown substances. 

While some people may see the causes of substance use disorder as primarily genetic or biological, and others may see them as behavioral, the reality is that SUD is caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. While genetics and life experiences can make individuals more predisposed to this disorder, certain substances (like opioids) are more likely to cause physical dependence, which can create uncomfortable symptoms when a person stops using that substance. Physical dependence is not the same thing as a substance use disorder. 

Facts & Stats

Alcohol and tobacco are the most commonly used substances, followed by cannabis. 
Over 20% of Americans used illicit drugs in 2019. 
Approximately 20% of Americans experience substance use disorder in a given year, but only 10% of those will seek treatment.
Use of substances can cause or worsen other mental health conditions. Approximately 38% of people with substance use disorder are also experiencing another condition like depression or an anxiety disorder. 
Alcohol causes more deaths than all drugs combined and alcohol misuse contributes to 88,000 deaths in the United States each year. 1 in 10 deaths among working adults is due to alcohol misuse.
After tobacco and alcohol, the deadliest drugs (in order of most deaths to least deaths) are fentanyl, heroin, prescription opioids, cocaine, methamphetamines, and benzodiazepines.

Types of Substances

  • Alcohol creates feelings of euphoria and lowers inhibitions, but it also severely impairs judgment, perception, and reaction times. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, but it causes the most severe long-term damage to the liver.
  • Cannabis (also known as marijuana) is a chemical that creates feelings of elation (being high), but can negatively impact cognitive function, memory formation, the perception of time, and reaction time. Cannabis is the most commonly used substance behind alcohol. 
  • Hallucinogens, like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), alter a person’s perception of reality (casually known as “tripping”) and can cause auditory and visual hallucinations. 
  • Inhalants are chemicals (paint thinner, nail polish remover) that people breathe in (also called “huffing”), which can produce a brief period of feeling high. While not as addictive as other substances, they can pose an acute risk of cardiac arrest or suffocation. 
  • Opioids, or opiates, interact with neurotransmitters in the brain to reduce pain. They can also cause feelings of intense pleasure. These drugs — like oxycodone,heroin, and fentanyl — are extremely addictive and cause the most drug overdose deaths. 
  • Sedatives are a type of prescription medication that slows down brain activity and are often used to induce relaxation or sleep. These drugs include Xanax and Ambien and can cause addiction. 
  • Stimulants, also known as “uppers,” are used to improve concentration, increase energy and keep people awake. While these drugs — like cocaine and meth — may create a “rush” and achieve these goals, they are also very addictive and can have serious health consequences. 

Symptoms & Warning Signs

While different substances can cause different symptoms, these are the defining factors of substance use disorder:

  • Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than intended
  • Wanting to cut down or stop, but not being able to 
  • Spending a lot of time and resources getting or using substances 
  • Cravings and urges to use the substance
  • Substance use interfering with work, school, or home life
  • Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
  • Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use
  • Increased tolerance or needing to use more of the substance to get the desired effect
  • Development of withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance 

Treatment Options

  • Behavioral counseling can be provided through outpatient or inpatient services. More severe substance use disorders often require inpatient treatment to manage withdrawal and create a safe environment so underlying problems related to the disorder can be identified and treated. 
  • Medication is not available for all SUDs, but it is used to treat tobacco use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and opioid use disorder. Types of medications used and their function differ by substance or drug category. 
  • Support groups and peer support are frequently used as part of a substance use disorder treatment plan (like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous).

Need more guidance on depicting Substance Use Disorders? Browse the expert directory >

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  • A substance use disorder is an illness that is characterized by clinically significant impairments in health, social function, and impaired control over substance use. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are diagnosed by assessing cognitive, behavioral, and psychological symptoms, and can range from mild to severe. Approximately 20% of Americans experience a substance use disorder in any given year.
    • No single factor can predict whether a person will develop a substance use disorder. A combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that using drugs can lead to a substance use disorder.
    • Individuals with a substance use disorder are often diagnosed with mental health disorders. Some people develop mental health problems related to their compulsive drug use, and some people may take drugs to alleviate symptoms of underlying mental health challenges.
    • There are many options that have been successful in treating substance use disorders, including behavioral counseling, medication, apps used to deliver skills training, evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and long-term follow up to prevent relapse.
  • Substance misuse refers to the use of legal drugs or medications in a way that is not intended, such as binge drinking or using drugs that were prescribed for someone else. 
  • Substance use refers to the use of illicit substances, such as heroin or cocaine.
    • Nearly 50% of young people have used an illicit drug by the time they graduated from high school. The younger a person is when they first use a substance, the higher their risk of developing a substance use disorder. 
  • The most-used substances (from highest to lowest usage) are alcohol, tobacco, kratom, marijuana, misused prescription pain relievers, cocaine, misused prescription tranquilizer or sedative, hallucinogens, misused prescription stimulants, methamphetamines, inhalants, and heroin.
  • Programs to prevent substance use or misuse can focus on building skills like self-control, emotional awareness, communication, social problem solving, self-efficacy and assertiveness, and peer relationships.
  • Battling stigma is an important part of addressing substance use and misuse. Stigma can reduce willingness to seek treatment, cause additional emotional distress, and even influence interactions with healthcare providers.
    • Language can perpetuate bias and false perceptions of substance use disorders, particularly the false narrative that substance use is a moral failing. For more guidelines around language, click here.
    • Stigma may also stem from outdated and inaccurate beliefs about addiction, instead of recognizing it as a chronic, treatable disease from which people can recover and continue to lead healthy lives.
  • People who are currently using substances or who are in recovery can have impulses and cravings triggered by depictions of drug use. Avoid depicting usage in content when possible, and avoid sharing details that might help viewers obtain, use, or hide usage of dangerous substances.
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