Hazardous drug use (Q50800)

A pattern of use of psychoactive substance(s) other than nicotine or alcohol that appreciably increases the risk of harmful physical or mental health consequences to the user or to others to an extent that warrants attention and advice from health professionals. The increased risk may be from the frequency of substance use, from the amount used on a given occasion, from risky behaviours associated with substance use or the context of use, from a harmful route of administration, or from a combination of these. The risk may be related to short-term effects of the substance or to longer-term cumulative effects on physical or mental health or functioning. Hazardous drug use has not yet reached the level of having caused harm to physical or mental health of the user or others around the user. The pattern of drug use often persists in spite of awareness of increased risk of harm to the user or to others.