People use substances for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. Here are seven common types of substance use.

1. People use drugs and alcohol in a variety of ways.
Here are 7 types of use.

2. Experimental use often begins in adolescence.
This is where people try one or more substances.
They may or may not continue to use the substances they
experiment with.

3. Social or occasional use is just that. Social users don't use
to get high or change their state.
They may use only on special occasions or regularly,
however the use doesn't significantly change how they feel
nor does it have a negative impact on their quality of life,
health, or relationships.

4. In this type of use the person uses a substance
(medication) as directed, or under medical supervision.
As long as the use is monitored and stays within the
prescribed level the risks should be minimal.
People may become dependent on their medication.

5. People who use substances recreationally do so to
experience the pleasurable effects of the substance.
Recreational use differs from social use because it is goal
directed with the intention being to significantly change
how they feel.
Recreational use of some substances can create significant
risk.

6. Use becomes a problem when people use drugs or alcohol
more often and when the use begins to regularly replace
other, healthier behaviours like enjoying a meal or having
social or intimate relationships.
Problem use can include the misuse or abuse of
prescription medications and other substances.
Problem use can escalate to to dependent or addictive use.

7. Dependent use can occur when people use substances for a
period of time and become physically and/or
psychologically dependent.
A physical dependence occurs when the body chemistry is
changed to a point where not using results in physical
withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological dependence is when people believe they
need the substance to feel normal or perform better.

8. This is also sometimes called "chronic dependence".
“Addiction” is a medical disorder in which people
compulsively use more and more of a substance with
increasingly negative consequences.
With this type of use people may be driven to use a
substance in order to just feel normal.