Am I an Addict?

The Criteria of Substance Use Disorder

“The priority of any addict is to anaesthetize the pain of living to ease the passage of day with some purchased relief.” Russell Brand on drug abuse

When talking about addiction to drugs or alcohol, there is typically something that is ignored: there are the substances and there are the reasons.

Being addicted or dependent physically to a drug is only part of the problem. The real addiction goes deeper. It is in your mind. In your psychology. And if you are asking the question, “Am I an addict” it is possibly even in your physiology at this point. Your brain has physically changed. This is why addiction is understood as a disease of the brain.

What Is Substance Use Disorder?

A substance use disorder generally refers to the patterns we form from recurrent drug use. In most cases, people with this disorder will continue to take these drugs regardless of the damage it leaves to their mental and physical health. This is physical and psychological. As the quote from Russell Brand highlights, people with addictions are often looking for a way to get away from normal life and its deep pains.

The DSM5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorder

While taking on a label can a danger, discovering a present disease is life-saving. This is why instead of saying, “You are an addict.” We try to say, “You have a substance use disorder.” Being an addict is a label, while the disease of SUD, once identified, can get treated.

This reality is one of the core reasons the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM5) created a set of criteria that you can use to answer the question, “Am I an addict?

11 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders

1. You take more amounts of the substance or for a longer period than you initially intended.
2. You want to reduce your substance use but have not been able to.
3. You spend significant time acquiring, using, or recovering after using the substance.
4. You battle consistent cravings to use the substance.
5. You ignore your work, home, and school life because of the substance.
6. You continue to use the substance, despite it damaging core social relationships.
7. You forfeit significant social, occupational, and recreational activities because of the substance.
8. You continue to use the substance, despite it putting you in danger.
9. You continue to use the substance, despite knowing it could worsen a physical or psychological issue you have.
10. You require more of the substance to feel the same effect.
11. You develop withdrawal symptoms each time you try and stop using the substance, but they disappear each time you take more of it.

From “Am I An Addict?” to “I Am in Recovery”

These criteria cover substance-related disorders for various drugs, including alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and much more. People with two or three symptoms generally have a mild substance use disorder, while those with four or five may be battling a moderate level of substance use disorder.

However, if you believe you have more than five symptoms, you may be living with a severe substance use disorder and must get help as soon as possible.

Our addiction treatment center for men in Austin, Texas, exists to give people the tools to find lasting recovery. We understand what addiction is and how to direct our clients to the path of healing. Call us today for more information on our residential treatment facility: 737-279-7505.