DRUG ABUSE/MISUSE/USE
Drug use refers to
the taking of a drug, either by swallowing, smoking, injecting
or any other way of getting the drug into the blood stream, such as inserting
it into the anus (often done by heavy cocaine snorters to avoid further
damaging their noses) or insufflation - inhaling the drug contained in
a fine spray.
The terms have different
connotations, varying usually on ideas of harm or wrong or inappropriate
purpose. Abuse and misuse imply that the use is harmful or done in the
wrong way. Misuse, as harm, refers to use that is dependent
or part of a problematic or harmful behaviour. Those who believe drug
taking is wrong, except within a medical context, will tend to use the
term misuse to refer to illicit drug taking. The goverment for example
still uses this term, in keeping with their policies that aim to prevent
non-medical drug taking.
Use by children is
regarded as inappropriate and again the terms abuse and misuse often apply,
such as in the case of volatile
substance abuse which is often harmful and particular to young teenagers.
Drug use is used to
refer to drug taking that, although it has some risk, it is not necessarily
wrong or dangerous. The term does not imply that drug taking is wrong
and is therefore preferred by many not wishing to value-judge the taking
of drugs.
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