Substance abuse is defined as which of the following?

Substance abuse is defined as which of the following?

• A. Using alcohol and drugs
• B. Using only legal substances
• C. Using only caffeine
• D. Not using any substances

Answer: (A)

Substance abuse means using alcohol or drugs in a way that causes harm, impairment, or distress in a person’s life. It’s about misuse, not just trying a substance or using it occasionally. The option that describes using both alcohol and drugs fits this idea best because it encompasses the misuse of substances that can be legal or illegal. The other choices miss the misuse aspect (using only legal substances), single out a substance not typically labeled as abuse in this context (caffeine), or describe no use at all, which isn’t about abuse.

Substance abuse means using alcohol or drugs in a way that causes harm, impairment, or distress in a person’s life. It’s about misuse, not just trying a substance or using it occasionally. The option that describes using both alcohol and drugs fits this idea best because it encompasses the misuse of substances that can be legal or illegal. The other choices miss the misuse aspect (using only legal substances), single out a substance not typically labeled as abuse in this context (caffeine), or describe no use at all, which isn’t about abuse.