Addiction - Features of Addiction

Question 1

How can you describe addiction?

Answer 1

• physical and psychological dependence
• tolerance
• withdrawal syndrome

Question 2

What is physical dependence?

Answer 2

Physical dependence is said to have occurred when a withdrawal syndrome is produced by stopping the drug.

It’s only possible to establish for certain that someone is physically dependent on a substance when:

• they abstain from it
• withdrawal symptoms are apparent

Question 3

What is psychological dependence?

Answer 3

Psychological dependence refers to the compulsion to experience the effects of a drug for:

• an increase in pleasure, or
• a reduction in discomfort

Psychological dependence leads to the drug/behaviour being a habit, despite the harmful consequences.

Question 4

What is tolerance?

Answer 4

Tolerance occurs when an individual’s response to a drug is reduced. This means they need even greater doses to produce the same effect on behaviour. It is caused by repeated exposure to the drug.

Question 5

What is cross-tolerance?

Answer 5

Cross-tolerance is when developing tolerance to one type of drug reduces sensitivity to another type.

For example, people who have developed a tolerance to the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol need higher doses of anaesthetic in surgery.

Question 6

What is a withdrawal syndrome?

Answer 6

A withdrawal syndrome is a collection of symptoms associated with abstaining from a drug or reducing its use. Symptoms are usually the opposite of ones created by the drug.

For example, withdrawal of nicotine leads to irritability, anxiety.

Question 7

What do withdrawal symptoms indicate?

Answer 7

Withdrawal symptoms indicate that a physical dependence on the drug has been developed. Symptoms are experienced whenever the drug is not available.

Motivation for taking the drug partly stems from the avoidance of these symptoms.