This open textbook for Concepts of Fitness and Wellness at Georgia Highlands College was created through a Round Seven ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

Introduction to Substance Use Disorders (2020) is an Open Educational Resource book designed for use in an introductory substance misuse course. These materials were developed using a variety of published sources and online materials, including resources produced by U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behavior (2020), edited by A.L. Begun and M.M. Murray, and most notably Theories and Biological Basis of Substance Misuse, Part I and Part 2 by A.L. Begun.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders
Identify the neurotransmitter systems affected by various categories of drugs
Describe how different categories of drugs effect behavior and experience

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Recognize the goal of substance-related and addictive disorders treatment
Discuss what makes for effective treatment
Describe how comorbid disorders are treated