Spectrum Of Drug Use/Abuse/Dependency

 

USE/SOCIAL USE/“RECREATIONAL” USE

 

  1. Experimental or occasional use.
  2. Moderate amounts.
  3. Appropriate medical use.
  4. Appropriate social use.
  5. Monitored use among family members, special occasions and functions.
  6. Religiously defined use.
  7. Personally defined use, used does not affect value system.
  8. No harmful consequences as a result of use.

 

Higher Risk use/abuse = any amount, frequency, or pattern of use that, if continued, has a high risk for leading to increased abuse and dependency.

 

  1. Use for effect.
  2. Spree or binge effect.
  3. Stress or relief use.
  4. Intermittent abuse; drinking to the point of a drunkenness.
  5. Excessive amounts.

 

Abuse = any amount and frequency or pattern of use which interferes with normal functioning; harmful consequences begin.

 

  1. Excessive amounts with increasing frequency.
  2. Continued use despite experiencing harmful consequences.
  3. Rationalizing or minimizing use.
  4. Plans to change but can't.

 

DEPENDENCY = use becomes the center of the person’s life, priority; uncontrolled use; use followed by harmful consequences, fall by use, and so on...

 

  1. Plans to change but can't.
  2. Frequent loss of control.
  3. Continued use despite harmful consequences.
  4. Behavior while using begins to violate value system.
  5. Broken promises to self and others.
  6. Increased tolerance.
  7. Blackouts.
  8. Unplanned use.
  9. Effects on school, family, relationships, appearance, etc.
  10. Development process slows to a halt.
  11. Delusion/DENIAL.
  12. Drinking just to feel “normal.”