Substance use Disorder: A Burning Issue

Substance use disorder (SUD) has infiltrated all socio-cultural and economic strata causing loss of productivity. Mental and substance use disorders are a major public health concern everywhere and responding to the burden they cause is a challenge for health systems in both developed and developing regions. Treatment rates for people with mental and substance use disorders remain low, with treatment gaps of over 90% in developing countries. Developing countries are facing an escalating burden of non-communicable disease, with mental and substance use disorders among the most significant. Many developing countries spend less than 2% of their health budgets on mental health. Drug dependence produces significant and lasting changes in brain chemistry and function. Effective medications are available for treating nicotine, alcohol, and opiate dependence but not stimulant or marijuana dependence. Medication adherence and relapse rates are similar across these illnesses. Studies suggest that long-term care strategies of medication management and continued monitoring produce lasting benefits patients with substance use disorder. In this article, we will give a brief overview about substance use disorder.