Psychoactive substance use ranks among the five top risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease. Substance use disorders can cause, mimic, underlie, or complicate a large number of medical and psychiatric conditions. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in non-substance forms of addiction such as gambling, internet gaming, and various other behavioural addictions. The ability to diagnose addictive disorders and initiate appropriate management is a responsibility f...

Substance use and related addictive disorders rate amongst the top four risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease and form an increasingly important part of medical and healthcare practice. Substance use disorders can cause, mimic, underlie or complicate a large number of common medical and psychiatric disorders. Making a correct diagnosis of the substance use disorder can facilitate clinical diagnosis, avoid unnecessary tests, shorten the hospital stay and make the clinici...