Master Substance Use Disorder with Picmonic for Medicine

Diagnosis of substance use disorder requires 2 or more signs of substance abuse in the past year.

Drug tolerance is defined as a reduced reaction to a drug following its repeated use. It is one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder.

Withdrawal is characterized by the group of symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation of drugs. These symptoms can include changes in appetite, bowel movements, and mood; patients can also develop anxiety, irritability, and headaches. It is important to note that in isolation, none of these symptoms is enough to meet the diagnostic criteria, the whole clinical picture and the temporal relationship between discontinuation of the drug and the onset of symptoms should be taken into consideration.

Intense cravings is one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder.

Patients often consume more of the drug than intended. This is very common in patients with substance use disorder.

Patients often feel guilty and try to decrease the intake of drugs. However, due to the physiological and psychological addiction, they are unable to cut down.

Time-consuming substance acquisition, use, or recovery from taking the substance are characteristic features of substance use disorder.

Impaired functioning at work, home or school is one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder.

Reduced interest in recreational activities is one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder.

People with this disorder often have a tendency to get involved in dangerous activities. One or more episodes of drug use involving danger (eg, driving while impaired, unsafe sex, physical altercation) is a part of the diagnostic criteria.

Continued use of the substance despite awareness of harm is a characteristic feature of substance use disorder.