Substance Abuse

Substance abuse, commonly referred to as drug abuse, is the use of a substance in quantities or ways that are harmful to the user or others. It is a type of disorder linked to substances. In the fields of public health, medicine, and criminal justice, various definitions of drug misuse are employed. When a person is using drugs, they may occasionally act criminally or in an antisocial manner, and they may also experience long-term personality changes. The use of some substances may result in criminal consequences in addition to potential bodily, social, and psychological harm, but these vary greatly depending on the local jurisdiction. Alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens (although there is no recognised psychedelic drug), and barbiturates are the drugs most frequently linked with this phrase. Alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens (although none of the three types of hallucinogens, known as psychedelics, have been proven to have any potential for addiction), methaqualone, and opioids have all been linked to addiction. Although the actual root of drug misuse is unknown, there are two leading theories: either a hereditary predisposition or a behaviour picked up from others that, if it becomes an addiction, presents as a chronic, crippling illness.