SpecialTopicsandResourcesSubstanceUseDisorderSignsandSymptomsAlcoholusedisorder,andthevarioustypesofotherdrugusedisorders(e.g.,opioid,cocaine,cannabis),havethesamesignsandsymptomsthatallfallunderthelargerumbrellaof“substanceusedisorder.” ALLOFTHESEDISORDERSHAVE: Signs(outwardlyobservablebehaviorsorconsequencesrelatedtotheuseofthesubstance)Symptoms(personal,subjectiveexperiencesrelatedtotheuseofthesubstance) Forexample:aclusteringoftwoormoreofthesesignsandsymptomsrelatedtoalcoholusewouldconstituteanalcoholusedisorder,twoormoreofthesesignsandsymptomsrelatedtoopioidusewouldconstituteanopioidusedisorder. SUBSTANCEUSEDISORDER(ALCOHOL-SPECIFIC)SIGNSANDSYMPTOMSINCLUDE: Problemscontrollingalcoholuse,drinkinglargeramounts,athigherfrequency,orforlongerthanoneintendedProblemscontrollingalcoholusedespite:ThedesiretocutdownorquitTheknowledgethatcontinuedalcoholuseiscausingproblemssuchas:PersistentorreoccurringphysicalorpsychologicalproblemsPersistentorreoccurringinterpersonalproblemsorharmtorelationshipsTheinabilitytocarryoutmajorobligationsathome,work,orschoolThedevelopmentof:Cravings: Apowerfulpsychologicaldesiretoconsumealcoholorengageinanactivity;asymptomoftheabnormalbrainadaptions(neuroadaptations)thatresultfromaddiction.Thebrainbecomesaccustomedtothepresenceofasubstance,whichwhenabsent,producesamanifestpsychologicaldesiretoobtainandconsumeitTolerance: Anormalneurobiologicaladaptationprocesscharacterizedbythebrain’sattempttoaccommodateabnormallyhighexposuretoalcohol.Toleranceresultsinaneedtoincreasethedosageofalcoholovertimetoobtainthesameoriginaleffectobtainedatalowerdose.Astateinwhichalcoholproducesadiminishingbiologicalorbehavioralresponse(e.g.,anincreasinglyhigherdosageisneededtoproducethesameeuphoriceffectexperiencedinitially)Withdrawalsymptoms: Physical,cognitive,andaffectivesymptomsthatoccurafterchronicuseofalcoholisreducedabruptlyorstoppedamongindividualswhohavedevelopedtolerancetoalcoholAlcoholusethatleadstoriskyorphysicallyhazardoussituations(e.g.,drivingunderthei