DRUG OF ABUSE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does drug of abuse mean? 

• DRUG OF ABUSE (noun)
  The noun DRUG OF ABUSE has 1 sense:

1. a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction

  Familiarity information: DRUG OF ABUSE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DRUG OF ABUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

drug of abuse; street drug

Hypernyms ("drug of abuse" is a kind of...):

drug (a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "drug of abuse"):

amphetamine; pep pill; speed; upper (a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression)

gateway drug (a habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs)

LSD; lysergic acid diethylamide (a powerful hallucinogenic drug manufactured from lysergic acid)

depressant; downer; sedative; sedative drug (a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person)

soft drug (a drug of abuse that is considered relatively mild and not likely to cause addiction)

baccy; tobacco (leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion)

alcohol; alcoholic beverage; alcoholic drink; inebriant; intoxicant (a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent)

 Context examples 

As a drug of abuse, it is known as PCP and Angel Dust.

(Phencyclidine, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)