Addiction and Substance Abuse

Addiction and dependence glossary[2][23][24]

• addiction – a biopsychosocial disorder characterized by persistent use of drugs (including alcohol) despite substantial harm and adverse consequences

• addictive drug – psychoactive substances that with repeated use are associated with significantly higher rates of substance use disorders, due in large part to the drug's effect on brain reward systems

• dependence – an adaptive state associated with a withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of repeated exposure to a stimulus (e.g., drug intake)

• drug sensitization or reverse tolerance – the escalating effect of a drug resulting from repeated administration at a given dose

• drug withdrawal – symptoms that occur upon cessation of repeated drug use

• physical dependence – dependence that involves persistent physical–somatic withdrawal symptoms (e.g., fatigue and delirium tremens)

• psychological dependence – dependence socially seen as being extremely mild compared to physical dependence (e.g., with enough willpower it could be overcome)

• reinforcing stimuli – stimuli that increase the probability of repeating behaviors paired with them

• rewarding stimuli – stimuli that the brain interprets as intrinsically positive and desirable or as something to approach

• sensitization – an amplified response to a stimulus resulting from repeated exposure to it

• substance use disorder – a condition in which the use of substances leads to clinically and functionally significant impairment or distress

• tolerance – the diminishing effect of a drug resulting from repeated administration at a given dose