Which of the following are considered criteria for substance use disorder?

Which of the following are considered criteria for substance use disorder?

• A. Recurrent use in hazardous environments
• B. Craving, tolerance, withdrawal, and unsuccessful attempts to cut down
• C. A single episode of abstinence
• D. Sleep disturbance only

Answer: (B)

Substance use disorder is defined by a pattern of use that causes clinically significant impairment or distress and is shown by multiple criteria over a year. Craving, tolerance, withdrawal, and unsuccessful attempts to cut down are classic criteria because they reflect growing dependence and loss of control: craving is a strong urge to use, tolerance means needing more of the substance to get the same effect, withdrawal signals physiologic symptoms when not using, and repeated failed attempts to cut down show difficulty controlling use. A single abstinence episode isn’t a criterion, nor is sleep disturbance alone. Because this option includes several of the recognizable criteria at once, it best represents what clinicians look for when diagnosing substance use disorder.

Substance use disorder is defined by a pattern of use that causes clinically significant impairment or distress and is shown by multiple criteria over a year. Craving, tolerance, withdrawal, and unsuccessful attempts to cut down are classic criteria because they reflect growing dependence and loss of control: craving is a strong urge to use, tolerance means needing more of the substance to get the same effect, withdrawal signals physiologic symptoms when not using, and repeated failed attempts to cut down show difficulty controlling use. A single abstinence episode isn’t a criterion, nor is sleep disturbance alone. Because this option includes several of the recognizable criteria at once, it best represents what clinicians look for when diagnosing substance use disorder.