Definition

Behavioral health refers to a state of mental, emotional, and social well-being or behaviors and actions that affect wellness. It is a more expansive than mental health, and includes suicide and substance use disorders. Under this topic, we will be addressing primarily substance use disorders and addiction. To learn more about suicide, click here. To learn more about mental health, click here.

Information and terms to know

According to El Paso County Public Health Department, mental health and substance use are inextricably linked. People who have a mental illness may struggle with substance use and vice versa.

• Such mental illnesses commonly include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and schizophrenia, etc.

Terms and definitions used when addressing behavioral health

• Habit: A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Habits can be established either voluntarily (i.e. eating healthy) or involuntarily (i.e. substance use/abuse).
• Substance misuse: Substances (i.e. recreational drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs, etc.) that are used in a way that they are not meant to be used. They are used in greater amounts, more often, or for long periods of time. This also includes using someone else’s prescription.
• Nonmedical use: Taking prescribed or diverted prescriptions drugs not in the way, for the reasons, in the amount, or during the time period prescribed.
• Dependence: Occurs when the body adjusts its normal functioning around regular substance use. Unpleasant physical symptoms occur when the substance is stopped.
• Tolerance: Occurs when a person using a substance begins to experience a reduced response to the substance, requiring more to experience the same effect.
• Overdose: Injury to the body (poisoning) that happens when a drug is taken in excessive amounts. An overdose can be fatal or nonfatal.
• Substance use disorder: A disease that leads to compulsive use of a substance despite impaired physical, mental, and social function.
• Addiction- a disorder of the brain that is considered to be a medical condition and mental illness; involves functional changes to the brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control, making it physically difficult to stop or change the behavior; addiction can develop from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, gambling, food, internet use (porn, video games), exercising, etc.