Addiction Terminology
Detoxification (detox): Withdrawal; the process by which a person gives up a substance or activity to which he or she has become addicted.
Impairment: An inability to carry on normal everyday functions because of an addiction.
Methadone: A chemical given to addicts to help them overcome their addiction to heroin.
Physiological dependence: A condition in which a person's body requires certain behaviors or the intake of some substance, without which it will become ill.
Process addiction: A condition in which a person is dependent on some type of behavior, such as gambling, shopping, or sexual activity.
Psychological dependence: A condition in which a person requires certain activities or the intake of some substance in order to maintain mental stability.
Substance addiction: A condition in which a person is dependent on some chemical substance, such as cocaine or heroin.
Tolerance: The ability of a body to endure a certain amount of a substance that had previously been too much for it to tolerate.
Withdrawal: The process by which a person adjusts to the absence of some substance or activity to which he or she has become addicted.
Impairment: An inability to carry on normal everyday functions because of an addiction.
Methadone: A chemical given to addicts to help them overcome their addiction to heroin.
Physiological dependence: A condition in which a person's body requires certain behaviors or the intake of some substance, without which it will become ill.
Process addiction: A condition in which a person is dependent on some type of behavior, such as gambling, shopping, or sexual activity.
Psychological dependence: A condition in which a person requires certain activities or the intake of some substance in order to maintain mental stability.
Substance addiction: A condition in which a person is dependent on some chemical substance, such as cocaine or heroin.
Tolerance: The ability of a body to endure a certain amount of a substance that had previously been too much for it to tolerate.
Withdrawal: The process by which a person adjusts to the absence of some substance or activity to which he or she has become addicted.
