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drug of abuse

drug of abuse

1 5.8
A drug taken for pleasure that changes how you think and can cause addiction or harm
  • noun
  • /drʌɡ əv əˈbjus/
  • NSFW
translation icon : droga de abuso
  • Many teenagers experiment with drugs of abuse without understanding the risks involved.
  • effects of drugs of abuse
  • reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse

Obviously drugs of abuse like methamphetamine can deplete dopamine neurons.

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Examples

  • The DEA argues that medical marijuana is a drug of abuse.

    Blog text (28)
  • Obviously drugs of abuse like methamphetamine can deplete dopamine neurons.

  • Obviously, if a substance had only adverse effects, it would not become a drug of abuse.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Over the past two decades, methamphetamine has become one of the most common drugs of abuse, estimated to affect 25 million people worldwide.

    Blog text (2)
  • About half of our study participants had fairly little experience with other drugs of abuse at the time they were initiated to the illicit use of pharmaceutical opioids.

    Academic text (2006)
  • If anything has been learned about the drug problem in the United States, it is that patterns of drug-taking and drug-seeking are continually shifting and changing. Fads and fashions in the drugs of abuse seem to come and go.

    Academic text (2009)
  • All drugs of abuse affect the area of the brain that is comprised of the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex.

    Blog text (22)
  • Cocaine is considered a drug of abuse due to its potential for addiction and harmful effects.

  • The government is implementing programs to educate the public about the dangers of drugs of abuse.

Synonyms

hard drug
vsdrug of abuse
  • NSFW
7 4.6

A strong illegal substance that people quickly become addicted to, like heroin or cocaine

is nonmedical in general rather than only the most addictive and powerful cases
street drug
vsdrug of abuse
  • NSFW
4 7.4

An illegal drug people use for fun that changes how they think and can harm them

is taken for nonmedical reasons and may be legal or illegal with harm potential
mind-altering drug
vsdrug of abuse
  • NSFW
3 4.8

A drug that changes how a person thinks, feels, or sees things

is taken for nonmedical pleasure and often carries addiction or harm risk
recreational drug
vsdrug of abuse
  • NSFW
3 4.4

A substance people take for pleasure, not medicine

is used nonmedically and usually carries real addiction or harm risk
psychoactive drug
vsdrug of abuse
  • Specialized
2 4.4

Something that changes how the mind works and so changes mood, behaviour and what you notice

is defined by nonmedical use and likely harm rather than only mental effects
psychoactive substance
vsdrug of abuse
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A drug that changes how you think, feel or act

is about nonmedical pleasure use and addiction risk rather than just mental effects

Antonyms

medicinal drug
  • Specialized
3.3

A substance used to treat, prevent, or reduce symptoms of illness

How Harmful

fentanyl
  • NSFW
52 7.9
heroin
  • NSFW
367 6.6
cocaine
  • NSFW
386 6.1
drug of abuse
  • NSFW
1 5.8
alcohol
813 1.0
cannabis
  • NSFW
49 4.6

Surface Forms

drug of abuse singular

Morphology

drug + of + abuse

The phrase is directly compositional: 'drug' combined with the prepositional link 'of' and 'abuse' yields 'a drug that is abused' or misused. A B1 learner who knows 'drug' and 'abuse' (wrong or excessive use) can readily infer it refers to substances taken for nonmedical or harmful purposes, so the meaning is predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Drug of abuse comes from the plain image of a drug being abused, meaning people use it too much or for the wrong reasons, often to feel different instead of to treat illness. That's why it refers to a drug taken for 'nonmedical' reasons that can cause 'harm' or addiction.