Which statement best differentiates substance use from substance use disorder?

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The idea being tested is the distinction between simply using substances and having a substance use disorder. Substance use is just the act of consuming a substance, which can be casual or recreational and may not cause problems. A substance use disorder, by contrast, is a clinically significant condition in which a pattern of use leads to impairment or distress and meets specific diagnostic criteria over a defined period. This means the person experiences problems in functioning (work, relationships, health), and there are features such as cravings, inability to cut down, tolerance, withdrawal, and continued use despite harm, with the severity ranging from mild to severe. So, the key difference is that use refers to consumption, while a disorder denotes a sustained, impairing pattern that meets diagnostic criteria.