At Success Health System LLC, we come into contact with several different kinds of users of both legal and illegal substances on the regular. It is important to understand the types of users for this information may help gain insight into the patient’s lifestyle and determine how our clinic can approach the patient for healthcare recommendations. The three types of substance users are: 1. The social user As the first type of substance user, the social user can take or leave the substance and does not make it a focal point in their life. The social user never puts them or others in harm’s way while using the substance and shows no pattern. This user does not use in excess. 2. The substance abuser The substance abuser is a drug abuser and can stop using a substance and return to a somewhat normal life. This user may also be considered a “binge user” which is when an individual uses in excess at times, but rarely shows a daily pattern of abuse. Although they do not use drugs or alcohol on a daily, they are susceptible to issues of a drug abuser. 3. The addict The final type of substance use is the addict, which is the most serious form of the substance abuser. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It’s common for individuals who fit the profile of an addict to use multiple substances. An addict may abuse alcohol for one decade, prescription medication after then moves onto illegal drugs. This behavior of moving from one addictive substance to another is called transference.