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Substance use disorder was nominated as a Natural sciences good article, but it did not meet the good article criteria at the time (March 19, 2020). There are suggestions on the review page for improving the article. If you can improve it, please do; it may then be renominated.

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I along with two peers will be working on improving this article by adding new research and sources where the information may be lacking and improving the overall structure of the article. We are also considering updating the definition of SUD. If anyone has a different view, please share it here. Otherwise, we will move along with these edits. BlackNightingale88 ( talk) 17:09, 28 March 2023 (UTC) reply

Per the rationale detailed at Talk:Substance_abuse#Merger_Proposal_with_Substance_Use_Disorder. Notably, the term "abuse" is inherently making a value judgement and major medical associations do not have "substance abuse" as a diagnosis. If you look at the first sentences of substance abuse versus substance use disorder, the definitions are very similar. ( t · c) buidhe 03:51, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

• Don't merge — The term "substance use disorder" is a medical term in psychiatry that covers a range of symptoms, including but not limited to misuse of the substance. It encompasses physical dependence, psychological addiction, and the social repercussions of substance use. "Substance abuse" primarily focuses on the act of using the substance in a way that is harmful. SUD have specific diagnostic criteria, often outlined in formal medical classifications like the DSM-5, but "substance abuse" lacks such specific, universally accepted diagnostic criteria. It should be in its own article, like for example, Anti-social behaviour and Antisocial personality disorder, Social anxiety and Social anxiety disorder, etc. -- WikiLinuz ( talk) 12:26, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  The article itself contradicts this premise in several places. If it's not a medical term, than why is most of the article cited to medical sources? And what is the non-medical meaning that differentiates it from SUD? Antisocial behavior is a legal term with a legal meaning in multiple jurisdictions, and really has nothing to do with the personality disorder. If the substance abuse article could be renamed "Illegal drug use" (which doesn't currently have an article) that would be a definite improvement, because then the article would have a clear scope, but a lot of the content would need to be changed. ( t · c) buidhe 15:30, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  If it's not a medical term, than why is most of the article cited to medical sources? — Because it still has some overlap with biomedical articles, but content related to non-medical claims (like history, culture, etc.) can be sourced from non-MEDRS sources. And what is the non-medical meaning that differentiates it from SUD? — SUD is a specific psychiatric diagnosis that is categorized under some standardized guides like DSM, whereas "substance abuse", "drug abuse", etc. are more general terms without standardized diagnostic criteria and they may not encompass the breadth of issues like a lack of control, increasing tolerance, or withdrawal symptoms. They may be used colloquially or in older medical literature, but the phenomenon of "drug abuse" or "substance abuse" itself is distinct from a specific notable psychiatric diagnosis from prominent diagnostic tools like DSM, ICD, etc. -- WikiLinuz ( talk) 17:17, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  "Substance abuse" may or may not be the right title (and we can rename it to something more appropriate) but the phenomenon itself is distinct from a particular medical diagnosis and is notable on its own. -- WikiLinuz ( talk) 17:27, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  If the articles are going to remain separate as you suggest, I think that there needs to be substantial editing to clarify the article scope and difference between these articles, as well as recreational drug use. As it is, it's unclear what the difference is, except that SUD is currently a recognized diagnosis and "substance abuse" is not. As you probably know, the DSM used to have "substance abuse" as a diagnosis, but this was merged with "substance dependence" into "substance use disorder". ( t · c) buidhe 17:33, 5 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  Whilst I agree in principle, the term 'recreational drug use', is and of itself a problematic term. Once again, much like 'substance abuse' it is placing moral and social values on a type of drug use. There is no criteria or agreed definition for what constitutes "recreational", it is not a a discrete and definable phenomena and it establishes a false dichotomy between acceotable and non-acceptable types of use (based on social standards applied to different types of use). Taifraser ( talk) 05:41, 21 September 2023 (UTC) reply

  Substance abuse should be merged under heading of "Substance Use Disorder" or removed entirely. It is not a definable concept, and is simply a value judgement placed on a person's drug use. It is not a distinct phenomena nor is it noteable on its own. Taifraser ( talk) 05:38, 21 September 2023 (UTC) reply

• Don't merge. I don't agree with the value judgment rationale here. For one, Wikipedia is not the one making any sort of value judgements, as all we do is use the most common term for any particular topic. And second, if calling someone's behavior involving the usage of substances "abuse" is a value judgment, then it seems to me that calling their behavior a "disorder" is just as much of a value judgment. And thirdly, Substance abuse is the broader subject matter, so if anything we should be merging Substance use disorder into Substance abuse, not the other way around. Rreagan007 ( talk) 00:27, 3 October 2023 (UTC) reply
• Merge. The term "SA" is, at least until recently, every bit as medical as the term "SUD". Old terms lingering around while the medical community finds new names (euphemisms, one can say) is a common occurrence. It at least had a specific, universally accepted diagnostic criteria (as "universal" as requirements like "major role obligations" can be – we live in a society!), despite how it is colloquially used. I had reservations about how SUD is supposed to be SA and/or dependence, but the SA article is already way too intertwined with dependence for this to matter. Artoria 2e5 🌉 03:36, 11 October 2023 (UTC) reply
• Merge. The term drug abuse has become outdated. DSMV has renamed it; ICD11 gives the parent heading of Substance use disorder and addiction, it also lists several disorders according to the substance used.-- Iztwoz ( talk) 15:15, 20 December 2023 (UTC) reply