What term describes a situation where a person continues to drink despite knowing it is causing harm?

The term that best describes a situation where a person continues to drink alcohol despite being aware of the harm it is causing is "Alcohol use disorder." This diagnosis encompasses a range of problematic behaviors related to alcohol consumption, including an inability to cut down on drinking, continued use despite negative consequences, and a preoccupation with alcohol. The recognition of harm is a key characteristic that indicates an awareness of the adverse effects, yet the individual persists in their behavior regardless.

Dependence typically refers to a physical or psychological reliance on alcohol, where withdrawal symptoms may occur if consumption is reduced or stopped. While this can be part of alcohol use disorder, it does not fully capture the context of knowingly causing harm.

Compulsion can describe an irresistible urge to act in a certain way, but it does not specifically pertain to the conscious awareness of harmful consequences tied to alcohol use.

Abuse may denote a pattern of drinking that results in significant impairment or distress, but it can be less precise as a diagnostic term and doesn't necessarily imply the clear understanding of harm involved, which is evident in alcohol use disorder.

Thus, alcohol use disorder is the most accurate and comprehensive term for the described scenario of continued drinking despite knowledge of the harm.