Aetiology: These drugs act on particular receptors and brain pathways and have found to play a central role in development of substance use disorders. Various neurotransmitters like opioids, catecholamines and GABA. There is also a role of genetic factors in development of substance disorders. Learning and conditioning is also known to contribute to these disorders.
There are four important patterns of substance use disorders which may overlap each other- Acute intoxication, withdrawal state, dependence syndrome, harmful use.
Treatment
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Immediate: completion of detoxification, in-tervention of psychosocial and medical crisis.
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Short-term: include management of medical and psychiatric co-morbidity and re-integration with family.
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Long-term: prevention of relapse, re-integration into the society, occupational rehabilitation and improvement in overall quality of life.