Define drug abuse.

Define drug abuse.

• A. Temporary use of a drug for medicinal purpose
• B. Any use of a drug as prescribed
• C. Illegal use of a drug or use of a legal drug in a manner that deviates from approved medical direction.
• D. Use of non-prescription supplements

Answer: (C)

Drug abuse means using a substance illegally or in a way that goes beyond what a clinician has approved, including misusing legal drugs by taking higher doses, more often, or for nonmedical reasons, or using someone else’s prescription. This differs from legitimate medical use or using a drug exactly as directed. The other descriptions describe proper or non-drug-related use (temporary medicinal use, use as prescribed) or non-prescription supplements, which do not capture the compulsive or unsafe patterns that define abuse.

Drug abuse means using a substance illegally or in a way that goes beyond what a clinician has approved, including misusing legal drugs by taking higher doses, more often, or for nonmedical reasons, or using someone else’s prescription. This differs from legitimate medical use or using a drug exactly as directed. The other descriptions describe proper or non-drug-related use (temporary medicinal use, use as prescribed) or non-prescription supplements, which do not capture the compulsive or unsafe patterns that define abuse.