With severe emotional pain, the driver could turn to a term describing turning to substances to hide emotional pain. Which term fits best?

• A. Use
• B. Abuse
• C. Misuse
• D. Ignore

Answer: (B)

When someone turns to substances to numb or hide emotional pain, the situation is described as substance abuse. This term signals harmful, excessive, or compulsive use that goes beyond normal or prescribed use and is aimed at coping with distress rather than for legitimate medical reasons.

Using substances in a neutral sense is just use, which doesn’t imply harm. Misuse could be close, as it means improper use, but it doesn’t always convey a chronic pattern of coping with pain. Ignore doesn’t fit at all, since it’s not about handling emotions with substances.

So the best fit is abuse, because it captures the idea of using substances in a way that is harmful and aimed at escaping emotional pain.