c5a18f9f__Drug_Policy_Reform___Glossary__Definition
[Term] Abuse [Definition] 
The term “drug abuse” is quite vague and has a variety of meanings depending on the context . Some equate any use of illicit drugs to “drug abuse”, for example, the international conventions consider that any use of drugs other than for medical or scientific purposes is abuse. The Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association defines abuse as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. A more appropriate term to adopt to describe the out of control use of drugs could be “excessive use” or “harmful use”
Global Initiative for Drug Policy Reform » Glossary
Definition