Identifying Substance Misuse in Stressful Situations

A 36-year-old male patient presents to the emergency department following a suspected overdose of opioids. His friends report that he has been using __________ for several months to cope with stress related to his job. As the nurse, understanding the progression of substance use disorders is critical in providing appropriate care.

According to the DSM-5, a substance use disorder is characterized by a problematic pattern of use leading to significant impairment or distress, manifesting in various ways. In this case, the primary function of the substance is to alleviate psychological discomfort arising from life stressors.

Based on these criteria, fill in the blank with the most commonly misused class of substances in such scenarios: