psychological dependence

…embrace all the medical, psychiatric, psychological, sociological, cultural, economic, religious, ethical, and legal considerations that have an important bearing on addiction. Prejudice and ignorance have led to the labelling of all use of nonsanctioned drugs as addiction and of all drugs, when misused, as narcotics. The continued practice of treating…

…dependency, the body’s physical and/or psychological addiction to a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, or nicotine. Physical dependency on such chemicals as prescription drugs or alcohol stems from repetitive use followed by the gradual increase in the body’s tolerance to, or ability to assimilate, that drug. Thus, increasingly…