CA
A 28-year-old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: illegal drug abuse?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 40 years experience
Illegal drug use: Any use of drugs both prohibited by law, eg marijuana or illegally obtained such as opiates. Many meds require prescriptions but only a few are addicting, i would use illegal drug abuse to refer to meds obtained illegally and used to excess against prescribed indications.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Brian Writeranswered
Psychiatry 17 years experience
Drug Abuse: Agree with prior response. In addition, drug "abuse" has a specific connotation to behavioral health providers. It specifically refers to ongoing maladaptive drug use despite awareness of associated distress and/or life role impairment. The use of legally prohibited and/or illegally obtained substances is suggestive of a current, historical and/or future substance misuse condition.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 4, 2016
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