Compulsive drug use

Drug addiction is defined as a syndrome in which drug use (e.g., psychostimulants, opiates, alcohol) pervades all life activities of the user. Life becomes governed by the drug and the addicted patient can lose social compatibility (e.g., loss of partner and friends, loss of job, crime). Behavioral characteristics of this syndrome are compulsive drug use, craving, and chronic relapses that can occur even after years of abstinence. 

Ben-Shahar O, Ahmed SH, Koob GF, et al The transition from controlled to compulsive drug use is associated with a loss of sensitization. Brain Res 995 46—54, 2004 Bolla KI, Cadet JL, London ED The neuropsychiatry of chronic cocaine abuse. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 10 280-289, 1998... 

Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug use, despite severe... 

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-... 

Authorities point out that few people are capable of questioning the value of a drug that makes them feel good and is considered to have beneficial effects. However, occasional experimentation can easily become compulsive drug use and abuse. Abusers frequently do not recognize the effects amphetamines have on their... 

It must be emphasized that the relationship between tolerance, physical dependence and compulsive drug use is complex and depends both on the category of drug and the personality of the abuser. For example, it appears that the majority of patients prescribed benzodiazepines for periods of many months experience relatively minor withdrawal symptoms when the drugs are abruptly stopped. Others, however, experience severe anxiety states and have extreme difficulty in stopping the drug. 

Di Chiara G (1998) A motivational learning hypothesis of the role of dopamine in compulsive drug use. J Psychopharmacol 72 54-67. 

Berridge KC, Robirrson TE. What is the role of dopamine in reward hedonic impact, reward learning or incentive salience Brain Res Rev 1998 28 309-69 Di Chiara G. A motivational learning hypothesis of the role of mesolimbic dopamine in compulsive drug use. J Psychopharmacol 1998 12 54-67 Dual Diagnosis. A series of articles in Addict Behav, 1998 vol. 23 717-946 Garbutt JC, West SL, Carey TS et al. Pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence. JAMA 1999 281 1318-25... 

Psychologic dependence Compulsive drug-using behavior in which the individual uses the drug for personal satisfaction, often despite known health risks... 

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