SubstanceRelated

Substancerelated is an adjective used to describe phenomena, conditions, or outcomes that are connected to chemical substances, especially psychoactive drugs. It encompasses issues arising from use, exposure, dependence, withdrawal, and related health, social, or legal consequences. While the standard form in most English-language writing is substance-related, substancerelated may appear in certain labels, datasets, or contexts where spacing is not used.

In professional contexts, substancerelated or substance-related terms are used to categorize a range of topics. Examples include substance-related disorders (a DSM-5 category that covers problems with regulation and use, commonly referred to as substance use disorders), substance-related harms such as overdoses, liver disease, or infectious complications, and substance-related offenses in criminology and law. The term also appears in toxicology and pharmacology to describe effects attributable to exposure to a particular substance.

Substancerelated should be understood as a broad descriptor rather than a term for a specific substance. Related language includes substance use, drug-related, alcohol-related, and substance-related harm. In research, policy, and clinical practice, focusing on substancerelated factors helps address prevention, treatment, and public health strategies aimed at reducing the adverse consequences of substance use.