Substance Use Disorder
What is substance use disorder?
Substance use refers to the consumption, inhalation, or injection of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, prescription, medication, opioids, and other drugs. The National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes drug addiction as a “chronic disease” that can lead people to behave compulsively and result in harmful consequences. Drugs may disrupt areas of the brain that are involved in learning, judgement, decision making, stress, memory, and behavior.
Loyola’s Counseling Center recently conducted a Public Health Initiative that navigates substance use and misuse. Visit their Substance Use and Misuse web page for more information.