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What Is Drug Abuse? Is Drug Abuse The Same As Drug Addiction?

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What is drug abuse? Good question, many answers.

Answering the question 'what is drug abuse' can be a little tricky. The answer could depend on who you are asking, the user, the spouse or parent or an addictions professional or doctor.

We will sort out the question of drug abuse so that hopefully, you will have a clearer concept of the problem. Bear in mind however there is no one, absolute correct answer to the question.

There is an old saying that if you think you may have a drug abuse problem, you probaly do. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. If you think the problem may be drug addiction, head on over to What is drug addiction?

Ready for some ideas and answers? Here we go.

Contents at a Glance

A Social Drug User vs. A Drug Abuser
What Is Drug Abuse?... Medically Speakin...
Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide
Drug Abuse Links
Drug and Alcohol Test
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Drug use vs. drug abuse

Let's talk about the difference between a social drug user and a substance or drug abuser. A social or drug user can take one drink or one hit and walk away from using more. It is a person who does not drink regularly, but may on the spur the moment decide to have a glass of wine with dinner. Or at a party somebody hands them a joint they take one puff and are done with it.

In A Social User:

Drug use does not regularly occupy their thoughts - such as worrying about where the next one is coming from.

There are no negative consequences for use - such has been arrested or getting into an accident.

There are no surprises regarding use - like waking up in a strange bed.

Their and no complaints from family and friends - there are no complaints because your behavior simply does not warrant it.

There is no loss of control - the issue of control does not even arise.

In A Drug Abuser:

There are negative consequences they occur but they are not repeated such as getting a DUI...once.

They are able to set limits and stick to them for example 'I will only have 2 drinks.'
Drug use starts to occupy thoughts more frequently, and use is more for a fact that sociability.

There are complaints by family and friends but they are heard and dealt with an example might be a warning from your boss, which you pay attention to.

What Is Drug Abuse?... Medically Speaking

Medically speaking, when we talk of drug abuse they refer to it as substance abuse. The primary definition involves a pattern of substance use that has be, problematic the pattern of use is less severe than substance dependence or addiction.

To meet the criteria for substance abuse, one or more of the following needs to occur within one year:

Recurring substance use results in a failure to fill major role obligations at work, school, or home. Examples might be missing work, not spending time with children, cheating on your spouse.

Recurring substance use and which is physically hazardous. The classic example is driving under the influence; it can also mean playing sports or an activity where you need sharp reflexes

Recurring substance related legal problems getting in trouble with the law.

Continued substance use despite having persistent and recurring social or interpersonal problems that are caused by or made worse by the effects of the substance. Put in plain English, your relationships with people starts to stink.

These criteria are paraphrased from the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders known as the DSM IV PC

Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide

Revealed: Drug Abuse Recovery Tips, Links and More

There is a gallery of sober living and life skill information available in the Free, 103 page Resource Guide. Lot's of '10 tips to...' and 'How to' articles. These are all solution oriented. We have been in the problem long enough.
Click Here: Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide,

What Is Drug Abuse? Is Drug Abuse The Same As Drug Addiction?

What is drug abuse? Good question, many answers.

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

A Social Drug User vs. A Drug Abuser

Drug use vs. drug abuse

What Is Drug Abuse?... Medically Speaking

Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide

Revealed: Drug Abuse Recovery Tips, Links and More

Drug Abuse Links

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