Addiction definition

Perhaps the largest gap in the evidence surrounds the primary site of action of nicotine in the brain - the acetylcholine receptor itself. Studies on links with tobacco dependence in humans will await closer definition of the complex interaction between nicotine and its receptor and the identification of the receptor sub-types that are important in addiction pathways (see Section 22.4). 

Similarly opioid peptides are important in nicotine addiction and may have a role in causing nicotine withdrawal symptoms in some smokers [35]. Opioid antagonists such as naltrexone are licensed treatments for dependence syndromes arising from other addictive drugs and could also be of use in some smokers to aid nicotine withdrawal [59] although there is no definitive evidence overall that they are beneficial [60]. 

Dopamine-Stimulating Medications. A variety of drugs that increase the availability of dopamine have been studied in cocaine addicts including L-DOPA, bupropion, amantadine, and methylphenidate. In small uncontrolled trials, these have shown some benefit, but definitive studies have yet to be performed. In addition, some dopamine-stimulating medications (in particular, the stimulants like methylphenidate or the amphetamines) are themselves subject to abuse, though, of note, this is typically not a problem when they are prescribed to patients who do not have a history of substance abuse such as, for example, in the treatment of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. 

Addiction is a complex behavior that refers to compulsive drug use. Addiction research is one of the few scientific areas that involves the biological and social sciences neurobiology, psychology, and sociology. Because of its complexity, there is much disagreement on the precise medical definition of addic-... 

Further situations in which methadone can seem an unsatisfactory substitution agent are towards the other end of the treatment spectrum. In uncomplicated maintenance treatment or for detoxification, the criticisms which are levelled at methadone relate not so much to the subjective effects, but to the aspects of addictiveness, abuse potential and toxicity. The issue of whether methadone is too addictive to be really suitable for detoxification is considered in detail in Chapter 3, and the controversial subject of methadone risks and deaths in Chapter 1. It is in the relatively milder cases of heroin dependence that buprenorphine treatment as an alternative to methadone has risen to great prominence in several countries, although, importantly, the condition definitely does not have to be mild for this medication to be used. Undoubtedly the introduction of buprenorphine is one of... 

Subsequently, a committee composed of representatives from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have developed a definition that includes typical behavioral changes, as well as the concept of denial ( 387). They characterized alcoholism as the following ... 

A common vocabulary has not been established in the field of prescription drug abuse. Because much of the survey data collected in this area refer to nonmedical use of prescription drugs, this definition of abuse, rather than that of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is used. Also, because physical dependence to prescription medications can develop during medically supervised appropriate use, the term addiction is used to reflect dependence as defined by the DSM. 

The World Health Organization expresses this view in its 1969 definition of "dependence (a term that replaced the use of "addiction" in its earlier declarations). Dependence is defined as... 

In this example, naifs indulge in the addictive activity more than TCs. This result turns out to be quite general Self-control problems combined with a belief that in the future they will not have such problems always leads people to overconsume addictive products. Indeed, the following result follows directly from definitions 3 and 4 For any contingency, if TCs hit, then naifs hit, and therefore if naifs refrain, then TCs refrain. 

Amphetamines are definitely drugs which have been and are abused. Notice that the organic modifications in the fundamental amphetamine structure are to make the compound more lipophilic and so speed its delivery to the CNS as well as heighten the stimulant and euphoric effect. Therapeutic doses of amphetamines range from 5 to 10 mg for a maximum of 60 mg per day while abusive doses may be as high as 500-1000 mg every 2-3 hours. The side effects of abuse include tolerance, addiction, malnutrition, heart arrthymias, and... 

States and around the world to fight narcotics trafficking and to deal with drug addiction. The metaphor has been criticized as simplistic, since it implies a definable enemy and the possibility of a definitive victory. 

Many myths surround the stronger opioids and their use can become restricted when the definitions of addiction, tolerance and physical dependence are confused. Some opioids, e.g. codeine, are less potent and are readily available in OTC products. 

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