Not all people who use a substance will have Substance Use Problems. Substance use problems occur when a person is using alcohol or other drugs at levels that are associated with short-term and long-term harm. For a person to have a substance use disorder, their substance use problems must have had an adverse effect on their life during the past year, in two or more of the following areas:

• The substance is often taken in larger amounts or for a longer period than intended.
• The person wants to cut down use, but finds this difficult.
• A lot of time is spent obtaining the substance, using it or recovering from its effects.
• The person experiences a craving (i.e. a strong urge) to use the substance.
• There is repeated use, which affects the person’s ability to fulfil their work, school or home responsibilities (e.g. repeated absences from work, poor work performances, neglect of children or household).
• The person makes repeated use of the substance despite causing ongoing problems with other people (e.g. arguments, fights).
• Other important activities are neglected because of the substance use.
• There is repeated use in situations where it is physically hazardous (e.g. driving a car or using machinery while affected by a substance).
• The person persists in their continued use despite knowing that they have a mental or physicalhealth problem caused by the substance.
• The person has a tolerance for the substance (i.e. the person needs to use increasing amounts to get the desired effect, or they get less effect with the same amount of the substance).
• There are withdrawal symptoms, or the substance is needed in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to a mental health professional. Our professionals are available to help you 24/7.

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Mhux kull min juża s-sustanzi se jkollu problema fl-użu tagħhom. Biex persuna titqies li għandha diżordni fl-użu ta’ sustanzi jrid ikollhom effett avvers fuq ħajjitha fl-aħħar sena f ’żewġ oqsma jew aktar minn dawn li ġejjin:

• Is-sustanza ta’ spiss tittieħed f ’ammonti ikbar jew għal perjodu itwal minn dak intenzjonat
• Il-persuna trid taqta’ mill-użu tagħhom imma qed issibha bi tqila
• Tqatta’ ħafna ħin biex takkwista s-sustanza, tagħmel użu minnha, jew tirkupra mill-effetti tagħha
• Il-persuna tesperjenza xenqa (jiġifieri, impuls qawwi) biex tuża s-sustanza
• Tagħmel użu ripetut mis-sustanzi, li jaffettwa l-abbiltà tal-persuna biex twettaq ir-responsabbiltajiet tagħha fix-xogħol, fl-iskola jew fid-dar (per eżempju, assenza ripetuta mix-xogħol, nuqqas ta’ attenzjoni lejn it-tfal jew lejn ix-xogħol tad-dar)
• Il-persuna tibqa’ tuża s-sustanza minkejja li din qed tikkawża problemi ma’ nies oħra (per eżempju, argumenti u ġlied)
• Attivitajiet importanti oħrajn jiġu traskurati minħabba l-użu tas-sustanzi

Jekk int jew xi ħadd li taf qed tesperjenzaw xi wħud minn dawn is-sintomi, kellem professjonist. Il-professjonisti tagħna qegħdin hawnhekk 24/7 biex jgħinuk.