Substance Abuse

In order to understand what addictions are and how they tend to develop, family members may be forced to learn a significant amount of vocabulary terms. Often, this can be a confusing experience, as some terms that mean radically different things to medical experts are used interchangeably by the media and the public at large. This can lead to a significant amount of confusion, and in extreme cases, it can lead to a delay in receiving needed care. Often, the confusion centers on the terms “substance abuse” and “addiction.” These two terms do not mean the same thing, but one can certainly lead to another. Read on to find out more about what substance abuse really means, and how it might lead to addiction.