When is Abuse not abuse?

Question

If I tell some-one that drinking whilst on medication is drug abuse (both are drugs!) I'm called stupid or laughed at as if it's some stupid joke! Why ? It can kill you as easily as an Illegal substance can?
If I smoke one joint to ease severe pain I'm a drug abuser
If I take strong medication for it, I'm not.
Some-one PLEASE explain the differences!!!

I KNOW what the word 'Abuse' means and see it everyday in my job as a carer.
I also know that Cannabis can and is prescribed for a certain condition in this country (UK)
I like the occasional drink myself too.
I have never and would never Deal drugs!
I dont encourage any type of abuse its other peoples Hypocracy that is the question here!

Buzzbeepr please note I'm not in the US. Its a medical fact that Cannabis can relieve pain.
and any Jerk as you so nicely called me also knows the difference between User and Dealer!

Answer 1

Society defines what is acceptable drug use and what is abuse. It does not have to make sense because its all wrapped up in the politics of drugs.

Mixing drugs isn't really abuse its just stupid, which has no cure other than when the stupid manage to kill themselves. Using a minor drug like marijuana to control pain may be illegal but it is not abuse. Using marijuana to get high is drug abuse, so is using alcohol to get drunk.

Answer 2

Facts first. Medicinal drugs are drugs that are taken if one is treating disease or pain. Illegal drugs are of course illegal and with good reason. They alter ones perception and reality. They do not help curing diseases and they use is purely out of pleasure they give.

The reason why it says don't consume alcohol while taking the medication (what ever it is) is the fact that the combination of both could render the medication useless and could also cause serious side-effects nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness or even worse depending on what you take and how much.

Second question: You are a drug abuser is you do it periodically. I think its a poor excuse to say that if you have pain. Why not take something that's legal. You do get over the counter drugs that are a better alternative.

By the way, you are a drug abuser if you take too much drugs that is not prescribe by your doctor for illness. It doesn't matter whether it is a an illegal drug or medicinal drug.

Every medication has written the duration one can keep taking it and amount. Drug abuser don't follow the recommend amount.

Answer 3

The main difference (and admittedly this is a quick kneejerk answer) is that those who are 'users' - define abuse differently than those who are outside/have a perspective on abuse.

Arguably abuse is what it 'says' on the tin - ab-use - (ab is from the Latin meaning away from/ off) therfore use that is away from the normal/acceptable.

You COULD say that use of all external substances or materials that have a 'mind altering' affect is a form of self-abuse - therefore even one drink of alcohol, or one 'pill' of medication is an abuse.

However - for most people - a pleasant social drink - is not alcohol abuse. Whereas drinking until you become unable to think or act with complete rationality, where your normal standards or behviour lapse and your moral decision making equipmnet is impaired, or even walking becomes a task you need to focus on to 'do'...is clearly abuse. the line between the two will vary between individuals.

With drugs - arguably we are all currently beholden to a paharmaceutical industry that hold enormous sway over our lives. Our 'devotion' (and admittedly this is generalizing for sakes of brevity) to allopathic medicine - means we are all mostly bought up in a frame of mind where there is a 'pill' to 'cure' an 'ill'.

The Pharmaceutical want us to believe this - it is how they make their money. However we are living in an era where the general pharmaceutical policy of 'never curing' only 'alleviating' symptoms inorder to sustain long term consumption of medication (and hence maximize profits). It is arguable therefore that much of the use of medicines is actually 'abuse' - but unwitting abuse on the part of any!

Many medicines carry warnings about not drinking a the same time as taking them - often this is almost as 'cover all' to avoid litigation 'in case' of an odd problem. Sometimes the consequences are genuinely a negative interaction. Most people do not raed medicinal info sheets fully (always in the packets when you get a prescription). Many people think that it doesn't matter. However you are perfectly right to say that by deliberately ignoring the advice of the makers of medicines you open yourself up to the potential of self-caused harm...ergo combining the two (alcohol and medicines) against advice could be seen as an abuse of these substances.

Answer 4

You are correct in your assessment that drinking while on medication is drug abuse. That cannot be argued. However, it is what any given society determines to be prescription and illegal drugs that defines what abuse is. As of now, marijuana is illegal and not an accepted and approved drug to be used in a self-prescribed manner. It's like taking any precription meds more than as directed by the physician. The same principal can be applied to any off the shelf medicines too. Abuse is abuse. The drug of choice is just a formality.

Answer 5

I'm not so sure there is a difference other than there are laws that state what drugs are illegal and what combinations cannot be prescribed.
Since the alcohol is not prescibed legally it is not abuse. Morality and legality are very different.

Answer 6

you are the dumbest person in america- if you cannot explain substance abuse. 1st. your not suppose to drink while on any medication which can be considered a form of drug abuse because your toxicating your body with a harmful substance.

a joint is not to be smoked to ease any pain jerk. and if you smoke it your a drug dealer not abuser.

The difference is smart people just don't do drugs. and loosers still have to take drugs to feel good about themselves.

Answer 7

Its only the law that makes this a difference. Taking strong pain killers is legal, smoke a 'joint' is not! x

Answer 8

Drugs are drugs and there is no clear definition. It's how people use them thats when you define the word 'abuse'. If you take them how you are supposed to then I wouldn't consider that to be abusive.

However, people that take heroin and use syringes is drug abuse.

Answer 9

I don't understand the question!

Answer 10

Never!