Substance use is the continued use of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines with negative consequences. These consequences may involve:
- Problems at work, school, home or in interpersonal relationships
- Problems with the law
- Health problems
- Physical risks that come with using illegal drugs in dangerous situations
Substances that are commonly used include:
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Inhalants
- LSD
- Marijuana and other cannabis-containing products
- PCP (phencyclidine)
- Prescription medicines
Alternative Names
Substance abuse; Illicit drug abuse; Narcotic abuse; Hallucinogen abuse
References
American Psychiatric Association website. Substance-related and addictive disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.
Weiss RD, Liebschutz JM. Drug use disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 365.
Review Date 7/17/2024
Updated by: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Internal review and update on 07/01/2025 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.