Substance abuse

english

The use of illegal substances or the inappropriate use of legal substances. The repeated use of these substances to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality (or all three). The use of these substances must have a negative impact on social, familial, and economic aspects of an individual’s life (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2000).

Source: reproduced with the permission of the Government of Canada

french: Abus de substances