Abuse is any use that is unacceptable to those making the determination. With illegal and prescription drugs, that's usually any recreational use at all. Subst

Abuse is any use that is unacceptable to those making the determination. With illegal and prescription drugs, that's usually any recreational use at all. Substitute "recreational use" for "abuse" if it makes you feel better about the semantics. Then we can dissect the finer points of "recreational". An LEO told me his use of wine wasn't recreational because he only used it socially, not for the effects, whereas recreational drug users are always using it for the effects.