illicit use
Unauthorized harmful employment
Illicit use refers to employing something in ways that are illegal or prohibited—typically drugs, but also software, weapons, or funds.
The phrase appears frequently in legal and regulatory contexts: The medication has legitimate medical applications but is prone to illicit use.
It implies violation of law or policy rather than mere impropriety.
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- off-labelOutside approved indications
- pill millIllegitimate pain clinic
- narcoticsDrugs inducing sleep, numbness
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
controlled substances · street drugs · overdose · doping · addiction · needle sharing · diversion · recreational drugs · party drugs · withdrawal · piracy · smuggling · drug mule · synthetic drugs · black market · under the table · shadow economy · misuse