This post will begin our series on the assessment of addictive behaviors, as it pertains to the ASWB bachelor’s social work licensure exam. We will first look at the differences between use, abuse and dependency. In the next posts, we will talk about the effects of addiction on the client, the family system, and other relationships. We will bring our series on addiction to a close by discussing the various indicators of addiction.

The use of a substance is classified as consuming an illicit substance. There are two types of substance use, recreational and habitual. Recreational use is the periodic consumption of an illicit substance, while habitual use the frequent use of an illicit substance, and a habitual user will normally consume the illicit substance until none is left.

Substance use becomes substance abuse once there is an impact to the health of the user, or to the health of others. In addition to health concerns, a substance abuser will normally also experience difficulties in their occupation, as well as difficulties interacting in their social relationships. Many substance abusers also face legal or judicial issues as well. Alcohol is the most common legal drug of abuse, while the most common illicit substance is Marijuana.

Addiction is a psychosocial disease. It tends to be chronic and relapsing. This level is characterized by drug seeking behavior, and changes in brain chemicals. There is also a strong dependence upon the substance at this level. This dependence can be emotional, psychological, or even physical in nature.

You can classify dependence by three or more of the following occurring withing a one year duration.

• Increasing tolerance to the substance. More of the substance must be consumed to get the desired effect.
• Withdrawal symptoms – Can be physical or mental in nature. Can last up to one week.
• The user is unable to stop taking the substance.
• The user consumes more of the substance over time.
• An obsession begins to develop, and the need for the substance overtakes the life.

In recent years, many Countries have began to focus on the rehabilitation of illicit substance users. This has been shown to yield a much lower drug re-conviction rate, as well as giving much increased prospects for reestablishing a normal occupation, and social network.

So there you have it, everything that you need to know to determine whether it is use, abuse, or dependence. Remember that use is the most minor level, while dependence is the most extreme level. This knowledge is normally tested on the bachelor’s social work exam, so make sure that you can distinguish between the various levels. Put simply, use is just using the substance, abuse is when it starts to cause harm, and dependence is when it starts to take over the life. Be sure to visit next week when we discuss the effects of addiction on the client. As always, please leave any questions, and I’ll be more than happy to do my best to answer them.