Substance Abuse & AddictionWhat Is Substance Abuse?

Substance abuse differs from addiction. Many people with substance abuse problems are able to quit or change their behavior.

What Is Drug Addiction?

Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behavior. With drug addiction, you can’t resist the urge to use them.

Signs of Drug Addiction

If you’re worried that you or a loved one may have an addiction, there are signs to help you know.

Tolerance, Physical Dependence, and Addiction Explained

"Addiction,” “tolerance,” and “physical dependence” are often used interchangeably. But they don’t mean the same thing.

Addiction: What Is Denial?

A first step in addressing addiction is to recognize and accept how alcohol and substance use is impacting your life.

Why Some Have Less Access to Addiction Treatment

The barriers to finding and getting proper substance use treatment vary from person to person.

How to Get Help With Addiction if You’re Uninsured

Addiction can be hard to beat even when you have good insurance for treatments. But what if you’re uninsured?

Risk FactorsDrug Addiction, Genes, and Your Environment

Studies suggest that about half of a person’s risk of developing a drug addiction is based on their genetic makeup.

Addiction and Other Mental Health Concerns

About half of people with substance use disorder also have depression, anxiety, or another type of mental illness.

Substance Use Disorder in Transgender and Nonbinary People

If you’re transgender or nonbinary, discrimination and stigma may lead to these types of mental health challenges.

Screening & TestsHow Does Screening for Substance Use Disorders Work?

You may wonder: How can you tell when drug or alcohol use is risky? And when has it crossed the line into causing harm?

What’s the CAGE Assessment?

CAGE stands for Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye, based on questions that can assess if you have a substance abuse problem.

What Is a Toxicology Test?

A toxicology test (drug test or “tox screen”) looks for traces of drugs in your blood, urine, hair, sweat, or saliva.

Urine Drug Tests for Illicit Drug Use

‌A urine drug test, or urinalysis, is a common way to find out if someone has recently used illegal drugs.

Complications & ConsequencesWhat to Know About Substance Misuse and Eye Changes

Substance misuse causes severe side effects. One of the significant side effects is changes in the appearance of the eyes.

Addiction and Nutrition

If you have a substance use disorder, you could be low on certain nutrients you need to be healthy.

Connection Between Sleep and Substance Misuse

Substance misuse or withdrawal from drugs can cause sleep problems or make them worse.

Addiction and Your Job

Federal laws protect people who are in recovery for substance abuse and no longer use illegal drugs.

What to Know About Addiction and Suicide

People who abuse drugs or have an alcohol addiction are up to 14 times more likely to die by suicide than others.

Disclosing Substance Use at the ER

You’re in the ER and the doctor has a question: Do you use any drugs? If the answer is yes, should you tell your doctor?

Intervention & Seeking HelpEarly Intervention for Substance Use Disorders

You may want to seek out early intervention if you think you or a loved one is misusing substances.

How to Ask for Help With Addiction

If you’re thinking about asking for help with drug or alcohol addiction, congratulations!

Talking to a Doctor About Substance Abuse

If you think you have a problem with addictive substances, bring it up with your doctor.

Detox & TreatmentAddiction: What to Know About Detox

Also called detoxification or withdrawal treatment, detox is the process of clearing the substance from your body.

Addiction: Know Your Health Care Team

When you’re ready to get sober, you’ll find many people to support you, from your regular doctor to peer support groups.

Ketamine for Addiction: What to Know

Researchers are now looking at whether there might be some benefits of ketamine in the fight against addiction.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Addiction

Deep brain stimulation is a promising but still unproven approach in treating addiction.

NAD Therapy for Addiction: What to Know

If you’re looking for help with an addiction for yourself or a loved one, you might run across centers offering NAD therapy.

Counseling and Substance Use Disorders

Counseling is a mainstay of substance use disorder treatment for many people.

Recovery & RelapseHow Exercise Can Help With Addiction Recovery

Experts think regular physical activity can act as a healthy stand-in for addictive substances.

Addiction: What to Know About Relapse

About 40% to 60% of people who get treatment for substance use disorder have a relapse.

Tips to Help You Stay Sober

You’ve taken steps to get sober. Support, and a good plan for managing urges and stress, can make staying there easier.

Mind-Body Techniques for Sobriety

When you think about stopping your substance use, physical and mental exercise probably aren’t the first things on your mind.

Top doctors in ,

Find more top doctors on

Health Solutions from Our Sponsors

More from WebMD

Related Links