substance abuse (redirected from Abuse of Legal Substances)

abuse (ah-būs´) misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

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child abuse  see battered-child syndrome.

drug abuse  substance a.

physical abuse  any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury.

psychoactive substance abuse  substance a.

sexual abuse  assault or other crime of a sexual nature, which need not be physical. Acts of a sexual nature are considered abuse if performed with minors or nonconsenting adults.

substance abuse  use of a substance that modifies mood or behavior in a manner characterized by a maladaptive pattern of use. See also substance dependence, under dependence.

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substance abuse

n.

Excessive use of a potentially addictive substance, especially one that may modify body functions, such as alcohol and drugs. Also called chemical abuse.

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substance abuser n.

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substance abuse,

the overindulgence in and dependence on a stimulant, depressant, or other chemical substance, leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical or mental health, or the welfare of others.

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abuse [ah-būs´]

misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

child abuse see child abuse.

domestic abuse abuse of a person by another person with whom the victim is living, has lived, or with whom a significant relationship exists. The abuse may take the form of verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical battering, or psychological (emotional) unavailability. Abuse is a learned behavior and has an escalating cycle; abusive behavior cuts across all racial, ethnic, educational, and socioeconomic boundaries.

drug abuse see drug abuse.

elder abuse maltreatment of an older adult, ranging from passive neglect of needs to overt mental, physical, or sexual assault.

physical abuse any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury, including not only intentional assault but also the results of unreasonable punishment.

psychoactive substance abuse substance abuse.

sexual abuse any act of a sexual nature performed in a criminal manner, as with a child or with a nonconsenting adult, including rape, incest, oral copulation, and penetration of genital or anal opening with a foreign object. The term also includes lewd or lascivious acts with a child; any sexual act that could be expected to trouble or offend another person when done by someone motivated by sexual interest; acts related to sexual exploitation, such as those related to pornography, prostitution involving minors, or coercion of minors to perform obscene acts.

substance abuse a substance use disorder characterized by the use of a mood or behavior-altering substance in a maladaptive pattern resulting in significant impairment or distress, such as failure to fulfill social or occupational obligations or recurrent use in situations in which it is physically dangerous to do so or which end in legal problems, but without fulfilling the criteria for substance dependence. Specific disorders are named for their etiology, such as alcohol abuse and anabolic steroid abuse. DSM-IV includes specific abuse disorders for alcohol, amphetamines or similar substances, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, PCP or similar substances, and sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics. See also drug abuse.

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substance abuse,

n misuse of mood-altering drugs; negatively influences the user's life.

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abuse,

n the improper use of program benefits, resources, and/or services by either dental professionals, institutions, or patients.

abuse, child,

n See child abuse.

abuse, drug,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter the user's feelings, behavior, or perception.

abuse, elder,

n the behavior or treatment toward an elderly person, by another person in a position of care, that has the purpose or effect of harming the elderly person's well-being. Such harm may include economic, physical, sexual, or mental abuse.

abuse, nitrous oxide,

n the deliberate inhalation of nitrous oxide to produce mood-altering effects. A type of substance abuse.

abuse, polysubstance,

n the physical dependence on at least three substances that have been classified as habit forming, but without any one of the substances having greater importance or influence than the others. The concept does not include caffeine or nicotine.

abuse, sexual,

n sexual acts performed with children or with nonconsenting adults in a criminal manner.

abuse, substance,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter some aspect of the user's experience. May include medications, illicit drugs, legal substances with potential mood-altering effects (such as alcohol or tobacco), or substances whose primary use may not be for human consumption (such as inhalants).

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substance abuse

Drug addiction Psychiatry Use of any substance for nontherapeutic purposes; or use of medication for purposes other than those for which it is prescribed; SA includes: 1. Use of illicit, potentially addicting drugs–eg, cocaine; 2. Misuse of prescribed drugs that stimulate or depress the CNS–eg, amphetamines or barbiturates; 3. Habitual use of commercially-available substances with known desired and deleterious effects–eg, alcohol, tobacco. Cf Addiction, Alcohol, Cocaine, Crack, Ice, Marijuana.

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Patient discussion about substance abuse.

Q. Can anybody tell me the point where I should be worried that I've become an alcoholoic? What is the definition of an alcoholist?

A. Since you are asking the question I think you already know the answer. No one asks this question out of the blue. Being an alcoholic is different for everyone. But if it has disrupted your life or the lives of those around you in any way, I would say yeah, you might want to talk to someone about quitting or at minimum controlling your drinking. But if you are truly an alcoholic you can never drink again. Not one sip. You will learn that one drink is too many and a thousand is never enough. If this question is for someone else, all you can do is be supportive of them whatever their decision is.