Other Definitions
drug abuse (dict)
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Drug AbuseDrug abuse or substance abuse is the use of any chemical substance (especially controlled substances such as psychoactive drugs, narcotics, hormones, prescription medication or over the counter medicines) in a way that society deems harmful to the user or others. Drug abuse is most commonly associated with addictive substances. Alcohol is also addictive and prone to abuse, however the term alcohol abuse is generally used distinctly from "drug abuse". Approaches To Managing Drug Abuse Advocation Of Recreational Drug Use There are those who advocate strongly that the right to use drugs, even to the point of harming oneself, is an individual right. There are others who argue that some drugs, such as marijuana can used in a relatively safe non-abusive manner, similar to moderate use of alcohol, and that those drugs should be legal while harder drugs should remain illegal for recreational use. Both of these groups believe not all illicit drug use is automatically abusive and that only when harm comes to others should society intervene. This model is already followed in many countries for alcohol and cigarettes, and in a few countries for additional substances like marijuana. The counter argument is that all recreational drugs are abusive, even soft drugs in moderation, and thus any recreational drug use harms the individual and often other members of society. They also argue that addictive substances, by definition, limit the individual's ability to make a free choice in their use of drugs, and therefore drugs should be controlled and criminalized at a societal level. Some people argue that while it may be true that some drugs can be used recreationally in a non-abuses manner, the majority of individuals will likely abuse the drug. Thus a blanket prohibition is justified as it the only realistic way to protect the majority individuals who will likely abuse them. There are many countries that prohibit the use of all addictive substances including alcohol, and the Prohibition movement in the United States was an eventually revoked attempt to do just that. For many of those favoring the continued criminalization of all currently illegal drugs, the recreational use of such drugs is synonymous in their minds with drug abuse, and thus they use the term "drug abuse" to refer to any recreational use of drugs. Medical Treatment Non-dietary substances entering the body can often have deleterious effects both acute and chronic. Furthemore, the addictive nature of most drugs limits the individual's ability to discontinue drug use even when experiencing these adverse health effects. Medical treatment then centers on two aspects: 1) breaking the addiction, 2) treating the health problems. Most societies in the world have health facilities that specialize in the treatment of drug abuse, although access may be limited to larger population centers and the social taboos regarding drug use may make those who need the medical treatment reluctant to take advantage of it. Legal Treatment Most countries in the world have lists of controlled substances, which are those substances that the society has deemed too harmful for individuals to exercise their individual choice to use. For controlled substances, the legal punishments for the creation, distribution, possession and even personal use can be quite severe (including death penalty in some countries). Despite the illegality of controlled substances, many very large, organized criminal drug cartels operate world-wide. Advocates of decriminalization argue that it is the illegality of these substances that is making drug dealing such a lucrative business. See also
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