I'm not telling you it is going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it- Anonymous

Substance Abuse Disorders
(aka Addictions)

 Addictions can take many forms.  This can be confusing, because terminology of addiction diagnoses has changed, and not all things which are commonly considered to be addictions have been officially recognized.  However, at least one addiction which is not related to a substance has been officially recognized (Gambling Disorder).  Substance abuse disorders are now categorized as mild, moderate or severe depending on the number of symptoms exhibited by an individual.  Contrary to popular belief, addictions are mental health concerns and must be treated as such.

The methods of treating addictions have undergone rapid change in the last few decades.  Gone are the days when the "moral model" was used to make a person feel ashamed enough to stop.  Now most practitioners utilize cognitive behavioral methods, with support groups and motivational interviewing to help patients recover from their addictions.  The focus is to enhance a person's own motivations to change and then help them to do so.

Substance use Disorders commonly occurs with:
Anxiety disorders
Depressive Disorders
Behavioral Disorders (children/adolescents)
Personality Disorders (adults)

External links for more info:
SAMHSA    ​ASAM