Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
drug abuse
drug a·buse [ druhg uh-byoos ]
Also called:
Substance abuse
Definitions related to drug abuse:
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Excessive use of drugs or chemicals with associated psychological symptoms and impairment in social or occupational functioning.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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The use of a drug for a reason other than which it was intended or in a manner or in quantities other than directed.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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The use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used, or in large amounts. Drug abuse may lead to social, physical, emotional, and job-related problems.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Drug abuse, the excessive, maladaptive, or addictive use of drugs for nonmedical purposes despite social, psychological, and physical problems that may arise from such use. Abused substances include such agents as anabolic steroids, which are used by some athletes to accelerate muscular development...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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