Exploring the Links Between Substance Use and Mental Health

Appendix

Definitions

The following are selected substance use definitions for this Discussion Paper:

Addiction according to Peele (1983) exists when a person’s attachment to a sensation or an object lessens his/her appreciation of and ability to deal with other things because of an increasing dependence on the experience associated with the sensation or object.

Harm Reduction implies reducing the harm associated with use of the substance. This may include reducing consumption levels, but also implies reducing other harmful health or social consequences, such as reducing the risk of infection through needle exchange programs.

Problematic Substance Use is the contextually inappropriate and improper use of any substance that results in seriously harmful outcomes or potentially serious harmful outcomes for the individual or others.

Process Addiction implies compulsive engagement in a process (such as eating or gambling) that produces health or economic problems and/or becomes uncontrollable and creates discomfort on withdrawal.

Responsible Substance Use is the contextually appropriate and proper use of any substance. In some cases this is subjectively defined by individual or community standards; in other cases this is objectively defined by laws.

Substance Use includes the use of any of a range of substances including tobacco, alcohol, non-prescription or prescription drugs, illicit drugs, solvents and inhalants. This use may range from abstinence, to occasional or regular use, to frequent heavy use, to substance abuse. Drug Use may be used as an alternate phrase.

Substance Abuse as defined in the World Health Organization’s Lexicon of Alcohol and Drug terms, is: "a maladaptive pattern of use indicated by ... continued use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, occupational, psychological or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the use [or by] recurrent use in situations in which it is physically hazardous" (p.4).

The selected mental health definitions relevant for this Discussion Paper are found in The Mental Health of Canadians: Striking a Balance (1988):

Mental Disorder is a recognized, medically diagnosable illness that results in the significant impairment of an individual’s cognitive, affective or relational abilities (p.8).

Mental Health Problem is a disruption in the interactions between the individual, the group and the environment (p.8).

Minimal Mental Health is individual, group, and environmental factors (in) conflict, producing subjective distress; impairment or underdevelopment of mental abilities; failure to achieve goals; destructive behaviors; and entrenchment of inequities (p.9).

Optimal Mental Health is when individual, group, and environmental factors work together effectively, ensuring subjective well-being; optimal development and use of mental abilities; achievement of goals consistent with justice; and conditions of fundamental equality (p.9).