Obviously, you have to use substances to have a substance use disorder. Therefore, it is something for parents and others to watch. An assessment of risk factors for substance use or abuse often can contribute to the index of suspicion. Individual risk factors include psychiatric disorders, specific temperament traits and favorable attitudes about substance use. Parental abuse of substances, lack of close attachment with parents and lack of parental supervision, including inadequate parental management styles, are among the family risk factors.
Research indicates that substance use disorders do run in families.
According to twin and adoption studies, we know there is a significant genetic component to that. Obviously, though, there are environmental factors that shape that biologic or genetic risk. Community or neighborhood characteristics, such as low socioeconomic status, high population density, physical deterioration of the neighborhood and high crime, are associated with greater adolescent substance use. Assessment Beyond reliance on risk factors for screening, the parameters discussed the roles of toxicology testing and medical and physiological issues in assessing substance use disorders. Other possible indicators are being a victim or perpetrator of violent acts, engaging in unprotected and unsafe sexual activity with subsequent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, and having human immunodeficiency virus infection, which is a risk factor among some intravenous drug and crack cocaine abusers.