Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Drug abuse refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, often leading to negative consequences on physical and mental health. It involves the compulsive consumption of substances despite their detrimental effects.
Addiction is a related term that refers to a psychological and physical dependence on drugs or substances. It involves compulsive drug-seeking behavior and difficulty in quitting despite negative consequences.
Peer pressure is the influence exerted by peers or friends to engage in certain behaviors, including drug abuse. Adolescents may feel pressured to conform to their social group's norms regarding substance use.
Reinforcement refers to the process of encouraging or strengthening certain behaviors. In relation to drug abuse interventions, understanding how positive reinforcement (rewards) or negative reinforcement (removal of aversive stimuli) can impact substance use can be helpful in designing effective interventions.