Drug dependence
The WHO defines drug dependence as:
A state, psychic and sometimes physical, resulting from taking a drug, characterised by behavioural and other responses that always include a compulsion to take a drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of its absence. Tolerance may or may not be present, and a person may be dependent on more than one drug.
Otherwise, drug dependence may be described as compulsive drug use which takes priority over considerations of personal health or social obligations.
Reference
- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: Forty-seventh report. April 2025 (online)
Related pages
- Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) (and Regulations 1973)
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
- Assessment of misuse
- Development of dependence
- Management
- Heroin addict (first consultation in primary care)
- Maternal drug abuse during pregnancy
- Ecstasy and heart disease
- Venous thromboembolism and intravenous drug abuse
- Contingency management in drug misuse
- Cocaine
- Cannabis
- Drug abuse and skin popping
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