Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
drug abuse Audio
drug a·buse [ druhg uh-byoos ]
Also called:
Substance abuse
Definitions related to drug abuse:
  • Excessive use of drugs or chemicals with associated psychological symptoms and impairment in social or occupational functioning.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • 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
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • 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 Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • 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
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.