Substance-Abuse is a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

1. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfil major role obligations at work, school, or home 

2. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous 

3. recurrent substance-related legal problems 

4. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance 

DSM-5 defines substance abuse in terms of how significantly it interferes with the user’s life. If substances disrupt your education, job, or relationships with others, and put you in physically dangerous situations (for example, while driving) you would be considered a drug abuser. 

Some evidence suggests that drug use can predict later job outcomes. In one study, researchers found that repeated hard drug use (using one or more of the following: amphetamines, barbiturates, crack, cocaine, PCP, LSD, other psychedelics, crystal meth, inhalants, heroin, or other narcotics) predicted poor job outcomes after college (Arria et al., 2013).

 

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