ADDS 4675

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A clinical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of substance use that leads to significant impairment or distress. SUDs are classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of diagnostic criteria present.

Tolerance

A physiological adaptation in which a person needs increasing amounts of a substance to achieve the same effect or experiences a diminished effect when continuing to use the same amount.

Withdrawal

Physical, psychological, or behavioral symptoms that can occur when a person who has adapted to a substance significantly reduces or stops its use. Withdrawal symptoms vary considerably depending on the substance.

Craving

A strong desire or urge to use a substance. Cravings may be triggered by internal experiences, such as emotions or memories, or external cues, such as people, places, situations, or exposure to substances.

Intoxication

A temporary condition resulting from recent substance use that produces clinically significant changes in behavior, psychological functioning, judgment, perception, cognition, or physical functioning.

Physical Dependence

A physiological adaptation to repeated substance exposure that may result in tolerance and/or withdrawal. Physical dependence alone does not necessarily mean that a person has a substance use disorder.

Addiction

A commonly used term describing a chronic condition involving compulsive substance use or behavior despite harmful consequences. In clinical diagnosis, Substance Use Disorder is generally used rather than "addiction" as a formal diagnostic term.

Recovery

An ongoing process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live increasingly self-directed lives, and work toward reaching their full potential. Recovery is highly individualized and may involve multiple pathways.

Remission

A period during which a person who previously met criteria for a substance use disorder no longer meets the full diagnostic criteria. DSM terminology distinguishes between early and sustained remission.

Recurrence of Use

A return to substance use after a period of reduction or abstinence. The term may be preferable to relapse in some settings because it describes what occurred without implying that treatment or recovery has failed.

Trigger

An internal or external cue associated with substance use or increased vulnerability to use. Examples include stress, particular emotions, interpersonal conflict, people, locations, celebrations, memories, or substance-related cues.

Protective Factor

A characteristic, condition, relationship, or resource that may reduce the likelihood of substance-related problems or support recovery. Examples include supportive relationships, stable housing, coping skills, meaningful activities, and access to treatment.

Risk Factor

A characteristic, experience, or environmental condition associated with an increased likelihood of developing substance-related problems. Risk factors can occur at individual, family, peer, community, and societal levels.

Harm Reduction

Strategies, programs, and policies designed to reduce the negative health and social consequences associated with substance use. Harm reduction may be used whether or not an individual is currently ready or able to stop using substances.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

A collaborative, person-centered counseling approach designed to strengthen an individual's motivation and commitment to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.

Stages of Change

A framework for understanding behavior change that commonly includes precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Movement through the stages is not necessarily linear.

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

The use of FDA-approved medications—primarily buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone—as part of evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.

Co-Occurring Disorders

The presence of both a substance use disorder and one or more mental health disorders in the same individual. Effective care often requires integrated or carefully coordinated treatment of both conditions.

Continuum of Care

The range of services available to address changing treatment and recovery needs over time. This may include prevention, early intervention, withdrawal management, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient services, residential treatment, medication, recovery support, and continuing care.

Recovery Capital

The internal and external resources that a person can draw upon to begin and sustain recovery. Recovery capital can include personal strengths, coping abilities, family and social support, housing, employment, education, community connections, healthcare, and recovery-supportive relationships.