Meaning and origin of "hustle, score, use"

Solution 1:

All three are slang for the life of an addict:

  • hustle: do what you have to to get some money. It could involve honest work, stealing, begging, borrowing, whatever it takes
  • score: find a drug dealer and buy some drugs
  • use: take drugs

Solution 2:

Q: ... and where does it come from?

It's not a set phrase but three individual words, the first two of which are slang.

  • hustle: "Sense of "to get in a quick, illegal manner" is 1840 in Amer.Eng.; that of "to sell goods aggressively" is 1887." (Online Etymology Dictionary)

  • score: "to find and purchase drugs. [US, (1926): ERH: 1982, DWM: 1936, BVB: 1942, D&B: 1970c, ..." (The Slang and Jargon of Drugs and Drink)

  • use: "mid-13c., from O.Fr. user "use, employ, practice," from V.L. *usare "use," frequentative form of pp. stem of L. uti "to use," in Old L. oeti "use, employ, exercise, perform," of unknown origin. Replaced O.E. brucan (see brook (v.))." (Online Etymology Dictionary)