Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction (also known as substance dependence or substance abuse) is diagnosed when an individual persists in use of drugs or substances both legal and illegal, despite problems related to use of the substance. Compulsive and repetitive use can result in the development of a tolerance to the effects of the substance and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. Substance dependence can be diagnosed with physiological dependence, evidence of tolerance or withdrawal, or without physiological dependence. Some define drug addiction as a subset of substance dependence that excludes drugs without evidence of tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.