Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the overuse, misuse, or abuse of illicit or legal drugs, alcohol, or medications. It is a serious public health issue that affects individuals, families, and communities across the world. Substance abuse can lead to physical, mental, and social consequences, including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and infectious diseases, suicide, and homicide. Effective treatments for substance abuse are available but individuals must seek help to benefit from them. Screening and early detection is also critical in order to reduce the impact of substance abuse.