chronic use
Long-term substance use
Chronic use describes the long-term, ongoing consumption of something—typically drugs, alcohol, or medications—as opposed to occasional or short-term use.
The phrase appears frequently in medical and addiction contexts: Chronic use of opioids can lead to physical dependence.
It implies sustained patterns over weeks, months, or years rather than isolated instances.
- habitualDone by routine
- drug habitCompulsive substance use pattern
- long-termLasting extended period
- prolongedMade to last longer
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
long term effects · substance abuse · dependence · tolerance · withdrawal · persistent · ongoing · repeated · sustained · abuse · heavy drinking · overuse · wear · wear and tear · fatigue · deterioration · medication · prescription
- substance usesubstance abuse, drug abuse, drinking, smoking, vaping
chronic useabstinence
Voluntary forgoing of indulgences
non-use · sobriety · cessation · discontinuation · abstention
chronic, use, chronically, chronicle, chronicles, chronicled, chronicler, chronological, chronologically