>>Now I really wouldn't know about other things I never tried - there's actually only one little technical question I would like to know: speaking about drugs other than the two I mentioned, what's the difference between use and abuse?
>
>The difference between use and abuse isn't a sharp line, or the same in every circumstance or in every addiction. However, in some situations the line is sharply defined by law, which is created by the will of the people in a free society.
>
>IMO, abuse exists when the user is no longer able to control their use of the substance or their need of the activity.

Reminds me of the old Chinese proverb:

First the man takes the drink
Then the drink takes the drink
In the end the drink takes the man