Use of substances, such as street drugs, alcohol, or prescription drugs if these are not taken for the reason they were prescribed. People commonly engage in substance abuse for purposes of getting "high", having an adventure, or escaping reality. Substance abuse can quickly become a preoccupation or an addiction. In addiction, patients lose control and have a compulsion to continue using the substance despite clear adverse personal and social consequences. The toll on the individual and society is significant with loss of work, loss of family, and increased risk of incarceration.