drug addiction

drug addiction

Physical and/or psychological dependency on a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance (e.g., alcohol, narcotics, nicotine), defined as continued use despite knowing that the substance causes harm.

Physical dependency results when the body builds up a tolerance to a drug, needing increasing doses to achieve the desired effects and to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependency may have more to do with one's psychological makeup; some people may have a genetic tendency to addiction. The most common addictions are to alcohol (see alcoholism), barbiturates, tranquilizers, and amphetamines, as well as to the stimulants nicotine and caffeine. Initial treatment (detoxification) should be conducted with medical supervision. Individual and group psychotherapy are critical elements. Alcoholics Anonymous and similar support groups can increase the success rate of other efforts. The ability to admit addiction and the will to change are necessary first steps.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Drug addiction — is widely considered a pathological state. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally… …   Wikipedia

  • drug addiction — narkomanija statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Liguistas potraukis nuolat vartoti narkotikus, kurie alina organizmą ir nervų sistemą, ir vis didinti jų dozę; priklausomybė nuo narkotikų. kilmė gr. narkē – sustingimas + mania –… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • drug addiction — addiction to drugs, compulsive drug use, habitual drug use …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Drug Addiction Treatment Act — The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000), Title XXXV, Section 3502 of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, permits physicians who meet certain qualifications to treat opioid addiction with Schedule III, IV, and V narcotic medications… …   Wikipedia

  • Drug addiction in infants — The term addiction can not be properly applied to infants who have been prenatally exposed either to legal or illegal substances.[1] Addiction is a technical term that refers to compulsive behavior that continues in spite of adverse… …   Wikipedia

  • drug addiction — noun an addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug) • Syn: ↑white plague • Topics: ↑narcotic • Hypernyms: ↑addiction, ↑dependence, ↑dependance, ↑dependency, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • drug addiction — Synonyms and related words: a habit, acquired tolerance, acute alcoholism, addictedness, addiction, alcoholism, amphetamine withdrawal symptoms, barbiturate addiction, barbiturism, chain smoking, chronic alcoholism, cocainism, crash, craving,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • drug addiction — a state of heavy dependence on a drug; sometimes defined as physical dependence but usually also including emotional dependence, i.e., compulsive or pathological drug use. It is often used synonymously with substance dependence …   Medical dictionary

  • European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction — Infobox European Union agency name=Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction x = 0 y = 200 location= pillar=European Communities signdate= establish=1993 director=Wolfgang Götz website= [http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/ emcdda.europa.eu] The… …   Wikipedia

  • Drug rehabilitation — Intervention ICD 9 CM 94.64 Drug rehabilitation (often drug rehab or just rehab) is a term for the processes of medical and/or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”