Drugs which are prescribed by a doctor for a medical reason is not a form of drug abuse when they are being used to help cure a disease or an illness. At an appropriate age, drinking alcohol in moderation is not abuse. Small amounts of marijuana are legal (at certain ages, in California) and even legally prescribed by medical doctors in some states (California) and on Indian territories (Native American Reservations). Most of the time, marijuana is not recommended or prescribed unless a person has a medical reason such as stage 3 or 4 cancer or severe anorexia. Over the counter drugs are drugs which can be purchased over the counter at local grocery stores and pharmacies. They are not abused if they are taken appropriately. These are examples of drugs that are legal if used in moderation and prescribed accurately and age appropriately; they are abused if the appropriate dosage is not taken in to consideration.

Drug abuse is the abuse of drugs. When a person uses drugs for a recreational purpose, that is abuse of drugs. It is drug abuse for a person to overdose on a drug. It is drug abuse for a person to encourage the use of street drugs of a person of any age. It is drug abuse to use, buy, or sell prescription drugs without a prescription (prescribed by a medical doctor). There are regulations in place for safety and to prevent drug abuse. Heroin and cocaine are examples of street drugs; they are dangerous drugs, are illegal, and are a form of drug abuse. Mixing two different kinds of drugs like alcohol and sedatives (narcotics, valium, xanax, ativan) is a very dangerous kind of drug abuse because it can be lethal (a person can die from that). Drinking to the point of blacking out is drug abuse, that is very dangerous as well.

New research has been done regarding drug abuse. It is a fact that when children start learning early regarding drug abuse; they are more informed on the issues of drug abuse and can withstand peer pressure when there are drugs around. And they will be able to better understand the dangers of drug abuse and make better choices. The motto, "Just say No!" is a popular motto and it accurately describes how simply saying "No" to drugs can be very empowering. People should feel good about saying "No" and they should feel good about making a good choice to protect themself from drug abuse. There are also more non alcoholic drinks being offered at celebrations: non alcoholic blended drinks (frozen margarita's, daquiri's, pinacolada's), and non alcoholic beer, like Odoul's. And there are many treatment programs(rehabilitation centers) for people who abuse drugs in order to help them to stop taking drugs and help them learn healthier ways of coping.