The Bane of Drug Addiction

The Problem of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction.

N Engl J Med 2003;349:975-86. Copyright © 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society. rug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder in which compulsive drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior persists despite serious negative consequences. Addictive substances induce pleasant states (euphoria in the initiation phase) or relieve distress. Continued use induces adaptive changes in the central nervous syst...

Drug addiction.

Psychogenic dependence is the common denominator of all drug habits and the primary drive which leads to initiation and relapse to chronic drug use or abuse (25). Although a pharmacologic drive is necessary it does not need to be a strong one or to produce profound subjective effects in order that habituation to the use of the crude material becomes a pattern of life. Besides tobacco, the use o...

Treatment of drug addiction.

[Treatment of drug addiction].