drug of abuse

Thân thiện

A person is offered a drug of abuse at a party.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A substance consumed for non-medical purposes: A "drug of abuse" is any drug taken primarily for its psychoactive effects—to alter mood, perception, or consciousness—rather than for treating a medical condition.
   • A substance associated with harm and dependence: Its use often leads to physical or mental harm and can result in dependence or addiction.

Usage

• The term is used in formal, legal, medical, and public health contexts to classify and discuss substances whose non-medical use is harmful.
• It typically refers to illegal drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine) but can also include the misuse of prescription medications (e.g., opioids, stimulants).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Cocaine is classified as a dangerous drug of abuse.
  • The report focused on preventing the use of drugs of abuse among teenagers.
  • Law enforcement works to intercept the trafficking of drugs of abuse.

Advanced Usage

• "Schedule I drug of abuse": A legal classification for substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
  • Under U.S. law, LSD is considered a Schedule I drug of abuse.
• The phrase often appears in compound nouns like "common drugs of abuse" or "potential drug of abuse."

Variants and Related Words

• Abusable drug (n): A less common synonym with the same meaning.
• Substance of abuse (n): A very similar term, often used interchangeably.
• Drug abuse (n): The act or pattern of misusing such drugs.
  • He sought help for his drug abuse.
• Abuse (v/n): To use something wrongly or excessively.
  • It is illegal to abuse prescription medications.

Synonyms

• Illicit drug: An illegal drug.
• Recreational drug: A drug used for pleasure rather than medical reasons (this term can be less formal and sometimes carries fewer negative connotations).
• Psychoactive substance: A substance that affects the mind (a broader, more clinical term).

Related Phrases

• Drug abuse and addiction: A common phrase linking the substance to the behavioral and physiological outcomes.
  • The clinic specializes in treating drug abuse and addiction.
• Pattern of abuse: Refers to the habitual misuse of a drug.
  • The patient showed a severe pattern of abuse.

Notes

• The core term is "drug of abuse." While "drug abuse" is a related and very common phrase, it refers to the of misuse, not the itself. The definition and examples here focus strictly on the substance ("drug of abuse").

Học thuật

Noun

1. a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction

Từ đồng nghĩa

• street drug