Substance Use Disorders
Substance Use Disorders - Related Videos
01:24
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
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2024
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue. Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:25
Deleterious Substances in Aggregate
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2024
Deleterious substances in aggregates can be detrimental to the quality and durability of concrete. These substances include organic impurities like loam, which interfere with cement hydration and are usually present in the sand. These prevent a good bond between aggregate and cement paste. Organic impurities can be detected using the colorimetric test, where the darkness of a solution after agitation indicates the level of organic content. Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
03:42
Targeted Substance Delivery to the Mouse Brain via Infusion into the Internal Carotid Artery
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2025
Source: Leda, A. R., et al. Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)This video demonstrates a microsurgical procedure designed to facilitate the targeted infusion of a test substance into the brain via the internal carotid artery (ICA). The procedure involves precise suturing and vascular manipulation to temporarily restrict blood flow, ensuring controlled delivery. A capillary tube is inserted into...
02:18
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
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2020
Intrinsically disordered proteins are a group of proteins that do not fold into specific three-dimensional structures. Their structural flexibility allows them to complement ordered proteins to perform functions that are inaccessible to rigid structures. They are more common in eukaryotes than prokaryotes and may either be exclusively intrinsically disordered or hybrid proteins, consisting of a mix of ordered and disordered regions. The absence of a rigid structure in these proteins can be...
01:17
Connective Tissue Fibers and Ground Substance
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2025
One of the significant functions of connective tissue is connecting tissues and organs. Unlike epithelial tissue that is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. The matrix usually includes a large amount of extracellular material produced by the connective tissue cells that are embedded within it. It plays a significant role in the functioning of this tissue. The major component of the matrix is a...
FAQs
Repeated exposure can strengthen associations between substance use and particular cues, making those cues capable of triggering cravings. Brain reward pathways interact with learning processes, so behavior may become increasingly driven by cue-related expectations rather than immediate circumstances. This mechanism helps explain why treatment addresses both psychological responses and the environments surrounding use.
Stress does not operate in isolation: it interacts with brain reward pathways, learning, and environmental influences. Social context can shape the circumstances in which substance use occurs and the cues associated with it. For psychologists, considering these factors helps explain variation between individuals and supports treatment that addresses more than behavior alone.
Tolerance can alter how repeated exposure affects behavior, while withdrawal may emerge when use is reduced or stopped. These changes provide clinically relevant information about the course and persistence of a disorder. Assessing them helps clinicians interpret substance-use patterns and select an individualized treatment approach.
Clinicians examine substance use patterns alongside co-occurring mental health concerns, motivation, and social context. Considering these domains gives a more individualized picture than focusing on substance use alone. The resulting assessment can guide intervention choices and identify psychological or contextual factors that should be considered during treatment planning and recovery.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing are among the interventions clinicians may use after assessing substance use patterns, co-occurring mental health concerns, motivation, and social context. This sequencing supports individualized care: psychological treatment is selected in relation to the person’s needs and circumstances rather than treated as separate from assessment.
Early identification helps clinicians recognize problematic patterns and consider relevant mental health and social factors sooner. Individualized treatment can incorporate biological, psychological, and environmental influences, while harm reduction focuses on limiting harms associated with substance use. Together, these applications connect psychological understanding with practical care and a broader focus on recovery.