What is drug addiction?
Q: What is drug addiction?
A: Drug addiction, also called substance dependence or dependence syndrome, is a condition where a person feels a strong need to take a drug. It involves other behaviours such as difficulty controlling the need to use the drug and feeling that using it is more important than normal activities like family or work.
Q: What happens when someone with an addiction stops taking drugs?
A: When the person does not use the drug for an amount of time, they may suffer from withdrawal.
Q: Are people usually addicted to one specific kind of drug?
A: Yes, when a person is addicted, they are usually addicted to one class (a specific kind) of drug. For example, heroin is in the opiate class so someone who's addicted to heroin may be seen as having an addiction to other opiates such as morphine.
Q: Is there such thing as an "addictive personality"?
A: Yes, a person who may easily become addicted to drugs is said to have an addictive personality.
Q: How does the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders define drug addiction?
A: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines drug addiction as a mental disorder.
Q: Is there often a link between mental disorders and drug addictions?
A: Yes, drug addiction is often linked with other mental disorders.
