"305.00 Alcohol Abuse" or "305.60 Cocaine Abuse").The DSM-IV requires at least three of the following symptoms present during a 12-month period for a diagnoses of polysubstance dependence. Tolerance: Use of increasingly high amounts of a substance or they find the same amount less and less effective ( the amount has to be at least 50% more of the original amount needed.) Withdrawal: Either withdrawal symptoms when the substance stops being used or the substance is used to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Loss of control: Repeated use of more substance than was initially planned or use of the substances over longer periods of time than was planned. Inability to stop using: Either unsuccessfully attempted to cut down or stop using the substances or a persistent desire to stop using. Time: Spending a lot of time studying substances, obtaining substances, using substances, being under the influence of substances, and recovering from the effects of substances. Interference with activities: Give up or reduce the amount of time involved in recreational activities, social activities, and/or occupational activities because of the use of substances. Harm to self: Continuous use of substances despite having a physical or psychological problem caused by or made worse by the use of substances.DSM-5 eliminated polysubstance disorder; there the substances must be specified, among other related changes. Treatment
Treatment for polysubstance dependence has many critical aspects. Substance rehabilitation is a lengthy and difficult process.
Treatment must be individualized and last a sufficient amount of time to ensure the patient has kicked the addictions and to ensure the prevention of relapse. The most common forms of treatment for polysubstance dependence include: inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, counseling and behavioral treatments, and medications. It is important that treatments be carried on throughout the patients life in order to prevent relapse. It is a good idea that recovering addicts continue to attend social support groups or meet with counselors to ensure they do not relapse. Inpatient treatment center
Inpatient treatment centers are treatment centers where addicts move to the facility while they are undergoing treatment. Inpatient treatment centers offer a safe environment where patients will not be exposed to potentially harmful situations during their treatments as they would on the outside. Inpatients usually undergo the process of detoxification. Detox involves withdrawing the user (usually medically) from all substances of concern. During their stay in the treatment facility, patients often are learning to manage and identify their substance addictions and to find alternate ways to cope with whatever is the cause of their addiction. Outpatient treatments
Outpatient treatments include many of the same activities offered in an inpatient treatment facility, but the patient is not protected by the secure and safe environment of an inpatient treatment center. For this reason, they are significantly less effective. The patient usually continues to hold a job and goes to treatment nightly. Twelve-step programs
Both in-patient and out-patient treatments can offer introductions to 12-step programs.