A shortened version of the term used in ICD-10, "Mental and behavioural disorders associated with psychoactive substance use."

The term encompasses
- acute intoxication
- harmful use
- dependence syndrome
- withdrawal state
- withdrawal state with delirium
- psychotic disorder
- amnesic syndrome

For a particular substance, these conditions may be grouped together as, for example, alcohol use disorders, cannabis use disorders, stimulant use disorders.
Psychoactive substance use disorders are defined as being of clinical relevance; the term "psychoactive substance use problems" is a broader one, which includes conditions and events not necessarily of clinical relevance.

World Health Organization. Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms published by the World Health Organization. Internet. Accessed on July 6, 2013.