Final answer:
Psychoactive substance use involves consuming substances that alter mental states, while abuse is used without medical advice or for unintended purposes. Addiction is a compulsive use despite negative consequences, and dependence includes withdrawal symptoms and may require rehabilitation. The DSM-5 provides criteria for the diagnosis of these conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To distinguish psychoactive substance use, abuse, and dependence, it is important to refer to the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Substance use involves consuming psychoactive substances that can lead to positive sensations like euphoria or increased alertness. This can become problematic when the use turns into abuse, which is characterized by the usage of a substance without medical guidance or beyond the original intended purpose, often leading to negative consequences.
Addiction refers to a compulsive pattern of substance use despite these consequences, which may lead to dependence. Dependence is indicated by withdrawal symptoms when the substance intake is decreased or ceased and it can be both physical, shown by symptoms like tremors and pain, and psychological, demonstrated by drug cravings. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the substance used.
Treatment options such as rehabilitation may be considered for individuals showing signs of substance use disorders. In some cases, alternative medications like methadone may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms in heroin addiction, indicating a substitution therapy approach.