substance-related disorder
One of a range of problems associated with the use and abuse of drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and other substances people use to alter the way they think, feel, and behave. These are extremely costly in human and financial terms.
impulse-control disorder
Disorder in which a person acts on an irresistible, but potentially harmful, impulse.
polysubstance use
Use of multiple mind- and behavior-altering substances, such as drugs.
psychoactive substance
Substance, such as a drug, that alters mood or behavior.
substance intoxication
Physiological reaction, such as impaired judgment and motor ability, as well as mood change, resulting from the ingestion of a psychoactive substance.
substance use
Pattern of psychoactive substance use leading to significant distress of impairment in social and occupational roles and in hazardous situations.
substance dependence
Maladaptive pattern of substance use characterized by the need for increased amounts to achieve the desired effect, negative physical effects when the substance is withdrawn, unsuccessful efforts to control its use, and substantial effort expended to seek
tolerance
Need for increased amounts of a substance to achieve the desired effect, and a diminished effect with continued use of the same amount.
withdrawal
Severely negative physiological reaction to removal of a psychoactive substance, which can be alleviated by the same or a similar substance.
withdrawal delirium
Frightening hallucinations and body tremors that result when a heavy drinker withdraws from alcohol. Also known as delirium tremens (DT).
depressant
Psychoactive substance that results in behavioral sedation; such substances include alcohol and the sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic drugs.
stimulant
Psychoactive substance that elevates mood, activity, alertness; such substances include amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, and nicotine.
opiate
Addictive psychoactive substance such as heroin, opium, or morphine that causes temporary euphoria, and analgesia (pain reduction).
hallucinogen
Any psychoactive substance, such as LSD or marijuana, that can produce delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and altered sensory perception.
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
Pattern of problems, including learning difficulties, behavior deficits, and characteristic physical flaws, resulting from heavy drinking by the victim's mother when she was pregnant with the victim.
alcohol use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral, and social problem associated with alcohol use and abuse.
barbiturate
Sedative (and addictive) drug such as Amytal, Seconal, or Halcion also used to treat insomnia. Effective against anxiety (and, at high potency, panic disorder), benzodiazepines show some side effects, such as some cognitive and motor impairment, and may r
amphetamine use disorder
Psychological, biological, behavioral, and social problems associated with amphetamine use and abuse.
cocaine use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral and social problems associated with the use and abuse of cocaine.
nicotine use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral, and social problems associated with the use and abuse of nicotine.
caffeine use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral, and social problems associated with the use and abuse of caffeine.
opiod use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral, and social problems associated with the use and abuse of opiates and their synthetic variants.
hallucinogen use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioral, and social problems associated with the use and abuse of hallucinogenic substances.
marijuana
Dried part of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa); a hallucinogen that is the most widely used illegal substance.
LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide)
Most common hallucinogenic drug; a synthetic version of the grain fungus ergot.
agonist substitution
Replacement of a drug on which a person is dependent with one that has a similar chemical makeup, an agonist. Used as a treatment for substance dependence.
antagonist drug
Medication that blocks or counteracts the effects of a psychoactive drug.
controlled drinking
An extremely controversial treatment approach to alcohol dependence, in which severe abusers are taught to drink in moderation.
relapse prevention
Extending therapeutic progress by teaching the client how to cope with future troubling situations.
intermittent explosive disorder
Episodes during which a person acts on aggressive impulses that result in serious assaults or destruction of property.
kleptomania
Recurrent failure to resist urges to steal things not needed for personal use of their monetary value.
pyromania
An impulse-control disorder that involves having an irresistible urge to set fires.
pathological gambling
Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior.
trichotillomania
People's urge to pull out their own hair from anywhere on the body, including scalp, eyebrows, and arm.