Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of use that causes significant impairment or distress, in addition to any one of these additional diagnostic criteria: using substances in situations where it endangers the user; a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home; having multiple drug-related legal problems; or continuing to use substances regardless of the problems it causes in the user's life. The different types of substance abuse have various features depending on the type of drug abused.
Stimulants include illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as legal substances such as nicotine, caffeine and over-the-counter stimulants. According to Darryl S. Inaba and William E. Cohen, authors of "Uppers, Downers, All-Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs," stimulant use causes the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, stimulating the brain's reward and pleasure center. This stimulation reinforces the drugs' abuse, as users attempt to feel good through increases of dopamine and norepinephrine and to avoid the "crash," medically known as dysphoria, that occurs after stimulant use depletes the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Abuse of stimulants depletes energy and creates intense drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol affects every organ in the body, and it is the oldest and most widely used psychoactive substance, notes the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Alcohol abuse includes binge drinking and other problematic patterns of drinking which fall short of addiction but meet the criteria for abuse. Alcohol abuse is linked to increases in aggression, impaired judgment, diminished inhibitions, mood problems such as depression and anxiety, health problems, sexual dysfunction and relationship problems. Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism primarily in the lack of withdrawal symptoms when an alcohol abuser stops drinking. However, alcohol abuse creates significant distress or impairment in the abuser's life.
In generall Alcohol causes a wide range of damaging digestive system effects, including acid reflux, liver cirrhosis and inflammation of the stomach and pancreas. Sixty percent of cases of pancreatitis result from excessive alcohol intake, reports the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Liver damage is common with use of heroin, inhalants, anabolic steroids and alcohol. Cocaine abuse can lead to painful gastric ulcers and damaging reductions in blood flow to the intestines due to powerful blood vessel constriction. Nausea and vomiting often occurs shortly after drug use, and is a symptom of heroin and prescription drug withdrawal.
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