Hazardous substance use

Definition

Hazardous substance use is a pattern of psychoactive substance use that appreciably increases the risk of harmful physical or mental health consequences to the user or to others to an extent that warrants attention and advice from health professionals. The increased risk may be from the frequency of substance use, from the amount used on a given occasion, from risky behaviours associated with substance use or the context of use, from a harmful route of administration, or from a combination of these. The risk may be related to short-term effects of the substance or to longer-term cumulative effects on physical or mental health or functioning. Hazardous substance use has not yet reached the level of having caused harm to physical or mental health of the user or others around the user. The pattern of substance use often persists in spite of awareness of increased risk of harm to the user or to others.

Exclusions

• Disorders due to substance use

6 subordinate codes

• QE10Hazardous alcohol use
• QE11Hazardous drug use
• QE12Hazardous nicotine use
• QE13Tobacco use
• 4B4YOther specified diseases of the immune system
• 4B4ZDiseases of the immune system, unspecified

Nearby in Problems associated with health behaviours

• QE20Lack of physical exercise
• QE21Hazardous gambling or betting
• QE22Hazardous gaming
• QE23Problems with inappropriate diet or eating habits
• QE24Problems with hygiene behaviours
• QE25Problems with oral health behaviours
• QE26Problem with sun exposure behaviour
• QE27Problem with behaviours related to psychological health or wellbeing