What is defined as the excessive or inappropriate use of drugs without medical justification?

The term that describes the excessive or inappropriate use of drugs without medical justification is medication abuse. This refers to scenarios where individuals use drugs in a manner not intended by the prescribing healthcare provider or use illicit drugs to achieve a desired psychological effect. Medication abuse may include taking higher doses than prescribed, using someone else's prescription medication, or using non-prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.

This concept is crucial to understand, as it distinguishes between acceptable medical use and problematic patterns of use that can lead to addiction and other severe health issues. The focus here is on the intentionality and context of drug use—abuse often involves a conscious decision to use substances in an unapproved manner, regardless of the potential for harmful consequences.

Other terms, while related, denote different situations. Medication misuse refers specifically to taking medication in a manner inconsistent with the instructions provided by a healthcare professional but does not necessarily carry the same weight of intentionality as abuse. Medication dependency pertains to a condition where a person feels the need to continuously use a substance, often leading to withdrawal symptoms if they stop, but again, this does not always equate to the inappropriate or excessive use seen in the context of abuse. Medication overdose specifically refers to taking an excessive amount of a medication at one