Substance Misuse
Dimension 109 of 1,100 · Health Lens
Substance Misuse measures the extent to which an expression reflects nonmedical or problematic use of alcohol or drugs, including frequency of use, motives for use, intoxication-seeking, and recognition of harmful consequences. It encompasses both engagement in use and awareness that the use may be excessive or damaging.
evidence final name · Substance Use
Minimal Substance Misuse
Expressions activating this band show little to no clear evidence of problematic substance use, often consisting of neutral references to drinking, health questions, or vague statements about change without a definite pattern of misuse.
Moderate Substance Misuse
Expressions activating this band describe active nonmedical or recurring substance use, including taking drugs regularly, using prescriptions to get high, drinking for coping or boredom, and beginning to recognize interpersonal harm or need for help.
High Substance Misuse
Expressions activating this band describe clearly problematic substance use centered on intoxication, combining substances, using drugs in routine leisure settings, and acknowledging that use is excessive or causing life problems.
Candidate names
Sentence counts by range
Dataset representation
Anchor definitions
Minimal Substance Use: Substance use is present at a low level. Expressions activating this band reflect early or diffuse substance use.
Moderate Substance Use: Substance use is experienced here as observable behavioral patterns associated with problematic or disordered functioning. Unlike the band below, where substance use was characterized by a general or mixed form, the proxy here has shifted in character. Expressions activating this band engage with substance use at a level associated with formal behavioral assessment.
Heavy Substance Use: Substance use is experienced here as observable behavioral patterns associated with problematic or disordered functioning. Compared to the band below, substance use is more intense and concentrated but retains the same essential character. Expressions activating this band engage with substance use at a level associated with formal behavioral assessment.