Alcohol and Drug Problems

Abstract

A substance problem is any negative outcome from prescription drug misuse, illegal drug use, or binge drinking. These problems often lead to substance use disorders (SUDs). Any substance use can cause problems. The real issues are a person’s reasons for using, and whether that substance use is part of a substance use disorder. Family members often think of the drug as being the problem when it is really the person’s pattern of use and reasons for using that are the problems. Drugs come and go and are replaced by new ones all the time. SUDs and addiction are people problems that involve drugs.