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Drug and Alcohol abuse can be grouped together under the heading of substance abuse. This term refers to the dependence on, or overindulgence in, some form of drug or other such chemical, the effects of which are seen to be detrimental to the users health, or the welfare of others.Substance abuse is typically used to describe a continued pattern of pathological misuse of either a mainstream medication, or a non-medically prescribed drug or toxin. The results of such misuse are repeated negative social consequences, such as complete failure to meet family, work or school obligations.
Debate is still underway to define the distinction between substance abuse and substance dependence. In broad terms it is generally agreed that the term substance abuse, deals with the social consequences, whilst substance dependence is used to describe the behavioural symptoms of substance abuse ; often these two terms are confused.
Substance abuse itself is not indicative of dependence, although it may eventually lead to substance dependence. In clinical terms, dependence would need to include the two key features of building up a tolerance, which would then lead to withdrawal. We should also note that both substance abuse and substance dependence are quite separate from the concept of addiction. Addiction, whilst often sharing similarities with dependence, will generally include some form of compulsive behaviour pattern, in continuing the use of a substance despite its negative effects. Although dependency usually implies some form of abuse, abuse can occur without dependency. This is particularly likely when a person is first beginning to abuse a substance. Substance abuse covers the interaction between the person, the substance and society, whilst dependency deals with the clinical aspects of long term substance abuse.