What does "substance abuse" specifically mean ?

Question

hi,

I'm confused after reading on wikipedia that "drug abuse" is not similar as "substance abuse". So what does the term "substance abuse" specifically indicate.

thanks

Answer 1

All the other posters are wrong.  It means consumption of a controlled substance (valium, oxycontin, etc) for the personal use "other" than treatment of a sickness or disease.

Answer 2

Misusing anything.

Not just drugs.

Answer 3

It means abusing Alcoholic beverages or drugs or even food

basically things you consume

Answer 4

When you abuse a substance such as drugs or alcohol...like if you drink too much and it ruins your health.

Answer 5

Many things can be addicting and/or misused - not just drugs.  Substance abuse covers drugs, alcohol, spray paint, nail polish remover, just about anything that can be inhaled or ingested to make a person high or create a feeling of euphoria.  Kids are finding all sorts of new things to inhale to get high these days, and they cannot all be classified as drugs, so now we call them "substances".

Answer 6

it means to abuse a substance.

It could be drugs or marshmallow fluff.

Answer 7

Substance can mean any "thing". You really don't abuse the substance though you abuse yourself by using the substance. You can use suger & be considered a substance abuser.  

Answer 8

A drug is like.. considered a drug but a substance is like a legal thing, like say beer and it can also term to like pills.  

Answer 9

ok, well drug abuse is when you take too much of a certain drug or mix drugs that aren't supposed to be mixed. substance abuse could be the same thing only substance abuse also involves abusing other bad protects. like for example sniffing sharpies to get high is substance abuse because its just as bad as some drugs but its not a drug if you can get it at wal-mart for like 2 dollars.

Answer 10

It means taking by mouth or injection any substance that doesn't come under the heading of food,drink,or medication.For instance if you sniff glue,that's substance abuse,if you drink ink(it's been tried), or for instance you inject yourself with some weird concoction.

Answer 11

substance abuse is often referring to any substance that is mood or mind altering and abusing it to the point of excess or addiction. But it can be more than drugs. food, for example. Wikipedia is a terrible resource, don't use it.

narcotics anonymous often quotes: ...staying clean from any mood or mind altering substance.

Answer 12

here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_a...

lol

Answer 13

anything that alters your state of mind

Answer 14

from the dictionary:

substance abuse

noun

overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, esp. alcohol or drugs.

Answer 15

That you are abusing a substance...it's the same thing.