Substance dependence, commonly called drug addiction, is a user's compulsive need to use drugs in order to function normally. When such substances are unobtainable, the user suffers from withdrawal.
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (more specifically, the 2000 "text revision", the DSM-IV-TR) does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:
When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. This, along with Substance abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders....
This is far from the only way of defining the relevant terms, however (see "Defining terms" section below).
Read more about Substance Dependence: Brief Overview, Defining Terms, Causes, Pathophysiology, Management, Epidemiology, History
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