| Substance Use |
Substance Abuse |
Chemical Dependency |
| Sometimes referred to as a "social or recreational
user" |
Person begins experiencing negative consequences
due to their substance usage |
Sometimes referred to as an "addict" |
| Person uses drugs or alcohol without the
experience of negative consequences |
Person begins experiencing negative outcomes
in major life areas (work, school, financial,
legal, family, friends) due to or related to
resulting behaviors because of the substance
abuse |
Person continues to experience negative outcomes
but appears not to care |
| Family members/friends of the person DO NOT
express concern about the person's usage |
Family members/friends of the person begin
to express concern about the person's usage |
Family members/friends will sometimes begin
to leave the person because they are unwilling/unable
to deal with the person's usage and resulting
behaviors |
| Use is usually limited to responsible use
on primarily social occasions |
Use begins to be the focus of social occasions
instead of a part of the social occasion |
Drug or alcohol use is compulsive and is
originated by physical cravings/triggers
|
| Example: A student experiments with alcohol
at a party but does not drive home. Use is
limited to a few occasions, no addition cycle
begins. Use is for "fun" not for "effect." |
Example: A student skips class to drink,
returns to school and is suspended (i.e. usage
begins to interfere with everyday life). Use
is not social, but is for effect or to escape. |
Example: A person (usually not an adolescent)
will continue to drink/use and becomes physically
addicted. Continued use can result in death
if not treated. Most adolescents are not chemically
dependent. |
