Which term describes the repeated use of drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol in a way that harms oneself or others?

• A. Substance Misuse
• B. Addiction
• C. Substance Abuse
• D. Dependence

Answer: (C)

Substance abuse is the term that fits this description because it refers to a pattern of using drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol that causes harm to the person or to others, or that leads to problems in daily life, relationships, or safety. It emphasizes the problematic nature of the use, not just the desire to use or the body's dependence.

Other terms carry slightly different shades: misuse can mean using a substance in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons, which may or may not involve harm; dependence focuses on physical reliance and potential withdrawal, not necessarily on the harms caused by the behavior; addiction describes compulsive use and loss of control and is a more specific, often more severe presentation than what the general statement implies.