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Addiction

Authoring team

A state of periodic or chronic intoxication detrimental to the individual and to society, produced by the repeated consumption of a drug. Its characteristics include:

  • an overwhelming desire to continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any means

  • a tendency to increase the dose

  • a psychological and physical dependence on the effects of the drug

  • unpleasant physical and mental symptoms on withdrawal of the drug

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