Substance use disorder occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (drug) leads to health issues or problems at work, school, ...YouAreHere:Home→MedicalEncyclopedia→SubstanceusedisorderURLofthispage://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001522.htmSubstanceusedisorderSubstanceusedisorderoccurswhenaperson'suseofalcoholoranothersubstance(drug)leadstohealthissuesorproblemsatwork,school,orhome.Thisdisorderisalsocalledsubstanceabuse.CausesTheexactcauseofsubstanceusedisorderisnotknown.Aperson'sgenes,theactionofthedrug,peerpressure,emotionaldistress,anxiety,depression,andenvironmentalstresscanallbefactors.Manywhodevelopasubstanceuseproblemhavedepression,attentiondeficitdisorder,post-traumaticstressdisorder,oranothermentalproblem.Astressfulorchaoticlifestyleandlowself-esteemarealsocommon.Childrenwhogrowupseeingtheirparentsusingdrugsmayhaveahighriskofdevelopingsubstanceuseproblemlaterinlifeforbothenvironmentalandgeneticreasons.Commonlyusedsubstancesinclude:Opiatesandothernarcoticsarepowerfulpainkillersthatcancausedrowsiness,andsometimesintensefeelingsofwell-being,elation,happiness,excitement,andjoy.Theseincludeheroin,opium,codeine,andnarcoticpainmedicinesthatmaybeprescribedbyadoctororboughtillegally.Stimulantsaredrugsthatstimulatethebrainandnervoussystem.Theyincludecocaineandamphetamines,suchasdrugsusedtotreatADHD(methylphenidate,orRitalin).Apersoncanstartneedinghigheramountsofthesedrugsovertimetofeelthesameeffect.Depressantscausedrowsinessandreduceanxiety.Theyincludealcohol,barbiturates,benzodiazepines(Valium,Ativan,Xanax),chloralhydrate,andparaldehyde.Usingthesesubstancescanleadtoaddiction.LSD,mescaline,psilocybin("mushrooms"),andphencyclidine(PCP,or"angeldust")cancauseapersontoseethingsthatarenotthere(hallucinations)andcanleadtopsychologicaladdiction.Marijuana(cannabis,orhashish).Thereareseveralstagesofdrugusethatmayleadtoaddiction.Youngpeopleseemtomovemorequicklythroughthestagesthandoadults.Stagesare:Experimentaluse--Typicallyinvolvespeers,doneforrecreationaluse;t