Drug dependency

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Drugs

Drug type

Designer drugs Dissociative drug Hallucinogenic drugs Nonprescription drugs Nootropic drugs Pharmaceutical drug Psychedelic drug Psychoactive drug Prescription drugs

Drug usage

Adverse drug reaction Drug abstinance Drug administration methods Drug allergies Drug discrimination Drug induced congenital disorders Drug interactions Drug metabolism Epidemiology of drug use Recreational drug use

Drug abuse

Codependency Drug abuse liability Drug addiction Drug dependency Drug dosages Drug induced hallucinations Drug laws Drug legalization Drug overdoses Drug sensitivity Drug tolerance Drug usage attitudes Drug withdrawal Laxative abuse Intravenous drug use Illegal drug distribution Needle exchange programs Needle sharing Poly drug abuse

Drug treatment

DANOS Drug abuse psychology Drug abuse prevention Drug augmentation Drug education Drug rehabilitation Drug self administration Drug therapy Drug usage screening Psychopharmacology Self medication Side effects (drug)

Drug dependency is the state psychological need for drugs, both legal and illegal this may be, but not necessarily, associated with physical dependence.

Psychological dependency

Psychological dependency is a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression, anorexia, etc). Addiction can in theory be derived from any rewarding behaviour, and is believed to be strongly associated with the dopaminergic system of the brain's reward system (as in the case of cocaine and amphetamines). Some claim that it is a habitual means to avoid undesired activity, but typically it is only so to a clinical level in individuals who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions (psychological addiction is defined as such), replacing normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained (see Rat Park study).

A person who is physically dependent, but not psychologically dependent can have their dose slowly dropped until they are no longer dependent. However, if that person is psychologically dependent, they are still at serious risk for relapse into abuse and subsequent physical dependence.^{[How to reference and link to summary or text]}

See also

• Drug abuse
• Drug abuse liability
• Drug addiction
• Drug usage screening
• Polydrug abuse
• Psychological dependence
• Side effects