The theme of this article is drug use in work context, and the objective is to analyze it from continuous use that does not bring severe consequences to the user to use that leads to his/her addiction. Based on literature review concerning this subject, a reflexion is proposed, which, among other aspects, includes a classification of drug intake in functional and dysfunctional manners. In the first, drug is used as a "work tool" and it does not prevent work from being accomplished; in the second, there is a change of the drug consumption pattern that deeply affects professional performance. While transitioning from functional to dysfunctional uses, drug transforms from a means to an end to the end itself. However, even in functional use, the users' relationship with their activities can be basically adaptive (although this might not occur to most of them), and therefore, it cannot be considered healthy.
drugs; work; drug addiction