, Describing addiction
De nition = a mental health disorder characterised by compulsive drug seeking or behaviours. Addictions can include physical
and/or psychological dependence
Physical dependence =
• when the body begins to rely on the presence or use of the susbstance - overtime the body physically adapts to the
presence of the subtance, this results in tolerance to the current level of the substance, and if the individual stops taking
the substance, the body experiences unpleasant symptoms called withdrawal syndrome
Psychological dependence=
• when you feel compelled or emotionally drawn to a substance - the mental compulsion to take a substance/carry out an
addictive behaviour - it refers to the compulsion to experience the e ects of a substance for an increase in pleasure or a
decrease in discomfort - if the individual stops taking the substance, it results in psychological a ects such as anxiety,
irritability, depression and cravings - psychological dependence leads to the substance/behaviour becoming a habit,
despite harmful consequences
Tolerance =
• this occurs when an individuals response to a subtance is reduced. This means they need greater doses to produce the
same e ect on behaviour. Tolerance is caused by repeated exposure to a susbtance
• Behavioural tolerance - individual learns through experience to adjust their behaviour to compensate for the e ects of a
substance, e.g a person addicted to alcohol walks more slowly when they are drunk to avoid falling over
• Cross-tolerance - developing tolerance to one substance can reduce sensitivity to another type, e.g people who have
developed a tolerance to the sleep-inducing e ects of alcohol they need higher doses of anasthetic in surgery
Withdrawal syndrome =
• symptoms associated when abstaining or reducing drug use. Withdrawal indicates a physical dependence on the
substance has developed, symptoms are experienced whenever the substance is not available. Motivation for taking the
substance is partly to avoid these symptoms
• Symptoms include physical symptoms like sweating, tremors and nausea. Psychological symptoms include anxiety and
hallucinations
• Withdrawal has 2 phases: 1) acute withdrawal phase - within hours and features intense cravings re ecting dependence,
2) prolonged withdrawal phase - over years and months, high sensitivity to cues associated with substance, e.g locations
fi
ff ff ff
De nition = a mental health disorder characterised by compulsive drug seeking or behaviours. Addictions can include physical
and/or psychological dependence
Physical dependence =
• when the body begins to rely on the presence or use of the susbstance - overtime the body physically adapts to the
presence of the subtance, this results in tolerance to the current level of the substance, and if the individual stops taking
the substance, the body experiences unpleasant symptoms called withdrawal syndrome
Psychological dependence=
• when you feel compelled or emotionally drawn to a substance - the mental compulsion to take a substance/carry out an
addictive behaviour - it refers to the compulsion to experience the e ects of a substance for an increase in pleasure or a
decrease in discomfort - if the individual stops taking the substance, it results in psychological a ects such as anxiety,
irritability, depression and cravings - psychological dependence leads to the substance/behaviour becoming a habit,
despite harmful consequences
Tolerance =
• this occurs when an individuals response to a subtance is reduced. This means they need greater doses to produce the
same e ect on behaviour. Tolerance is caused by repeated exposure to a susbtance
• Behavioural tolerance - individual learns through experience to adjust their behaviour to compensate for the e ects of a
substance, e.g a person addicted to alcohol walks more slowly when they are drunk to avoid falling over
• Cross-tolerance - developing tolerance to one substance can reduce sensitivity to another type, e.g people who have
developed a tolerance to the sleep-inducing e ects of alcohol they need higher doses of anasthetic in surgery
Withdrawal syndrome =
• symptoms associated when abstaining or reducing drug use. Withdrawal indicates a physical dependence on the
substance has developed, symptoms are experienced whenever the substance is not available. Motivation for taking the
substance is partly to avoid these symptoms
• Symptoms include physical symptoms like sweating, tremors and nausea. Psychological symptoms include anxiety and
hallucinations
• Withdrawal has 2 phases: 1) acute withdrawal phase - within hours and features intense cravings re ecting dependence,
2) prolonged withdrawal phase - over years and months, high sensitivity to cues associated with substance, e.g locations
fi
ff ff ff
