Substance Use Disorders Analysis

Substance Use Disorders Definition and Criteria The DSM 5 defines substance use disorders as a “cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 483). Within the broad category of substance use disorders are listed disorders for each of the following substances: alcohol, cannabis, inhalants, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, tobacco, stimulants, hallucinogens, and opioids. The disorders are classified in severity by the terms mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of criteria met by the patient. There are eleven criteria defined in the DSM 5. Those criteria are:
1. Taking
Women are frequently victims of trauma or other circumstances that place them at high risk for developing a substance use disorder. These situations include childhood sexual assault, domestic violence, poverty, and homelessness. However, many of the programs that offer services to trauma victims exclude those with a substance use disorder. (Goldberg, 1995). When attempting to access substance use treatment, many women find that the structure of the programs is not conducive to their needs as either women or mothers. First, most treatment programs were designed for and use techniques that are appropriate for men but do not necessarily meet the needs of women (Goldberg, 1995). Second, there has been a movement to criminalize substance use during pregnancy. For this reason, women are less likely to seek treatment. Women who are mothers are especially vulnerable to the consequences of stigma related to substance use disorders. Mothers who use substances live in fear that they will be labeled an unfit mother. This label can carry great consequences such as removal of children from the home and criminal charges. This stigma is likely a barrier to accessing substance use treatment (Stringer and Baker,
This occurs at both the youth and adult level. In a study conducted with youth of various ethnicities who were participating in substance use treatment, the participants were asked to report out on both their commission of criminal acts and their involvement with the criminal justice system. Hispanic and mixed-race adolescents reported committing property and drug crimes than Whites and a higher proportion of all minority groups reported committing interpersonal crimes. The Black youth in this study were the least likely to have committed a felony, yet their involvement with the criminal justice system was significantly higher than the white youth. Involvement in the system as a youth is a risk factor for being incarcerated as an adult, as well. In 2009, the incarceration rate for Black males was found to be 6.7 times higher than White males (Mukku, Benson, Alam, Richie, and Bailey, 2012). One of the leading causes of incarceration is criminal behavior related to a substance use disorder.
The third disparity for minorities who have a substance use disorder is the treatment they receive. While most treatment facilities follow evidence-based practice and utilize research supported interventions, almost all of these interventions were tested with groups that were pre-dominantly White. According to a study conducted by Eugene Aisenberg, very few minorities were included in the