Creighton University

Definition of Terms

Use

• the ingestion of alcohol or other drugs without the experience of any negative consequences.
• EXAMPLE: If a college student drank a few beers at a party and made it home and to bed safely, we could say he had used alcohol.  This can apply to any drug.

Misuse

• when a person experiences negative consequence from the use of alcohol or other drugs it is clearly misuse.
• A large percentage of the population misuses drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives; however, this does not imply that the negative consequences are minor. 
• EXAMPLE: A 20-year old college student uses alcohol on an infrequent basis, but his friends throw him a surprise party and the student drinks more than usual.   The police bust the party and the student is arrested and receives an MIP (minor in possession) charge.  The student does not really have a problem with alcohol, but in this instance the consequences are NOT minor: the MIP will go on the student’s permanent record and could affect his chances of getting into professional or graduate school one day. 

Abuse

• continued use of alcohol or other drugs in spite of negative consequences.
• EXAMPLE: Lets go back to the 20-year old college student who was arrested and given an MIP.  If s/he had no substance abuse problem s/he would decide to abstain from alcohol—at least until s/he is of legal age—because getting an MIP would be enough of a deterrent.  However, shortly thereafter this student goes to another party and there s/he drinks in excess and has another run-in with the police—maybe even drives home drunk—this would be considered abuse.  The student is continuing the behavior, even though it has negative consequences in his/her life. 

Dependency/Addiction

• the compulsive use of alcohol or other drugs regardless of adverse or negative consequences.
• EXAMPLE: a student receives two MIPs and one DUI in one year and is put on probation.  If the student is caught using alcohol he would be sentenced to one year, BUT s/he continues to drink.  The student is clearly addicted to alcohol because the negative consequences did not impact or deter his use.
   

In the event that an individual is clearly in the use or misuse stages there are no indications that s/he will naturally progress to the final stages.  However, once the individual has reached the abuse stage there is a high probability that s/he will progress into dependency and alcoholism.  Once the individual reaches the fourth and final stage, which is alcoholism, s/he cannot go back to being a social drinker, s/he will forever be an alcoholic.  The individual should seek professional help and get into a treatment program.

Source: http://nickscape.net/recoveryzone/stagesof.htm