Substance abuse

Abstract

Substance misuse (or abuse) refers to an excessive use of a substance or drug, which leads to a significant clinical impairment in an individual's physical, mental, and social life. It is a global public health problem, extending from high-income countries to low and medium-income countries. The impact of substance abuse on individuals is important regarding medico-legal issues and economic cost. Therefore, health care providers should be aware of this growing problem. Diagnosis and treatment of mental and/or physical manifestations of substance abuse is a real challenge for physicians, particularly in terms of differential diagnosis and reliable treatment. Dermatologists have a critical role in this process for both early diagnosis and prevention. There are many cutaneous signs of substance use. Prominent signs of frequently used substances, diagnostic clues, and treatments have been discussed in this chapter.