Substance Use Disorders

noun a chronic disease characterized by a dependency on alcohol consumption

• Alcoholism is a serious medical condition characterized by an addiction to alcohol.
• Alcoholism can really take a toll on a person's health and relationships.
• Some people struggle with booze too much and end up with alcoholism.
• In a way, alcoholism can be like drowning in a sea of alcohol with no way out.

noun an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks

• Dipsomania is a medical condition characterized by uncontrollable alcohol craving.
• She jokingly referred to her love for wine as dipsomania.
• Some people think dipsomania is just an excuse to drink excessively.
• His dipsomania for adventure led him to travel the world.

noun a condition characterized by the compulsive use of drugs despite negative consequences

• Drug addiction is a serious medical condition that requires professional treatment.
• My cousin has been struggling with drug addiction for years.
• She's hooked on drugs and can't seem to kick the habit.
• His addiction to drugs was like a weight dragging him down, preventing him from reaching his full potential.

noun a highly addictive drug derived from morphine, used as a recreational drug and in medicine as a painkiller

• The government is implementing stricter regulations to combat the distribution of heroin.
• I heard that guy got caught with a bunch of heroin in his car.
• She's been hooked on that skag for years now.
• His addiction to heroin was like a dark cloud hanging over his life.

noun a person who is addicted to narcotics, which are drugs that relieve pain and induce sleep

• The rehabilitation center offers programs to help narcotics addicts overcome their addiction.
• I heard that John's cousin is a narcotics addict and is struggling to get clean.
• Stay away from that guy, he's a hardcore narcotics addict.
• Being a narcotics addict is like being trapped in a never-ending cycle of destruction.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

• Caffeine use disorder is a recognized mental health condition characterized by a dependency on caffeine.
• I think my caffeine use disorder is getting out of hand; I can't function without my morning coffee.
• Dude, you need to cut back on the caffeine - you're developing a serious caffeine use disorder.
• Her daily Starbucks habit had turned into a caffeine use disorder, controlling her every move like a puppeteer.

noun a person who is addicted to a particular substance or activity

• The rehabilitation center provides support and treatment for drug addicts.
• Some addicts struggle to break free from their addiction on their own.
• Those addicts need to get their act together and seek help.
• She was a book addict, always immersed in the world of literature.