What lifestyle changes can help with substance use?

Identifying personal use patterns and their consequences using validated tools (AUDIT, DAST) supports self-assessment. Reducing availability by not keeping substances at home is a practical harm reduction step. Identifying high-risk situations and developing alternative coping strategies is central to relapse prevention. Building social support networks — including recovery communities — reduces isolation that drives use. Sleep, nutrition, and regular exercise support neurobiological recovery.

What integrative approaches support substance use?

NICE and WHO guidelines recommend screening (AUDIT for alcohol, DAST for other drugs), brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT model). Pharmacological treatments include NRT and varenicline (nicotine), methadone/buprenorphine (opioids), naltrexone and acamprosate (alcohol), and bupropion (stimulants — limited evidence). Psychological treatments with strong evidence include motivational interviewing, CBT, contingency management, and 12-step facilitation. Harm reduction interventions (naloxone access, needle exchanges, supervised consumption) reduce mortality. The FRAMES framework (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Self-efficacy) guides effective brief intervention.

When should I seek professional support for substance use?

Seek doctor or addiction specialist assessment for any substance use causing concern — regardless of whether full dependence criteria are met. Seek urgent medical assessment for withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids — all carry significant physical risks. Harm reduction services, drug and alcohol teams, and peer support programmes are widely available.

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Substance Use

Q: What is substance use?

Substance use spans a spectrum from occasional, low-risk use to harmful use (causing health, social, or occupational harm without dependence) to substance use disorder (characterised by compulsive use, tolerance, withdrawal, and loss of control). Commonly used substances include alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, opioids (prescription and illicit), stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA), sedatives (benzodiazepines), and psychedelics. Substance use is associated with a broad range of physical and mental health consequences depending on substance, route of administration, frequency, and individual vulnerability.

The use of psychoactive substances including alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, opioids, or stimulants — ranging from low-risk to harmful use or dependence.

Understand what may be causing this

Reviewed by Internal Medical Editorial Team · Integrative Health Content Review26 March 2026High Evidence

Quick answer

Substance use describes the consumption of psychoactive substances — including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, or other drugs — which may range from low-risk recreational use to harmful use or dependence. ICD-10: F10–F19 (mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substances); ICD-11: 6C40–6C4Z. Requires contextual assessment across a spectrum from use to disorder.

Recognition