English Lexicon

Substance Misuse

/ˈsʌb.stəns ˈmɪs.juːs/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.

    "The community launched a campaign to raise awareness about substance misuse among teenagers."
  2. 2

    The inappropriate use of prescribed medications or legal substances.

    "Substance misuse can lead to serious health complications and addiction."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'substance misuse' combines 'substance', derived from Latin 'substantia' meaning 'that which stands under', and 'misuse', from Old French 'mesus', meaning 'to use wrongly'. The phrase evolved in the late 20th century to describe the harmful use of psychoactive substances.

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