Substance Abuse & Addiction: Substance Abuse & Addiction Overview

State of dependence caused by frequent and regular use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances. It is characterized by uncontrolled craving, tolerance, and symptoms of withdrawal when access is denied.

Disease characterized by impaired control over the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Any one of a group of drugs that are powerful central nervous system stimulants. Amphetamines have stimulating effects opposite to the effects of depressants such as alcohol, narcotics, and barbiturates.

Alkaloid drug derived from the leaves of the coca shrub. A commonly abused illegal drug, cocaine has limited medical uses.

From Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
The clinical consequence of any excess dose of a drug (e.g., of a self-administered, potentially lethal dose of a drug of abuse, an antidepressant, a nonnarcotic pain reliever, or other medication).

opiate drug synthesized from morphine (see narcotic). Originally produced in 1874, it was thought to be not only nonaddictive but useful as a cure for respiratory illness and morphine addiction, and capable of relieving morphine withdrawal symptoms.

From Macmillan Dictionary of Toxicology
A hallucinogenic (psychedelic) agent that has been a drug of abuse as well as being used experimentally as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

Psychoactive substances obtained from Cannabis sativa or Indian hemp are the oldest euphoriants. Also called marijuana, these substances do not usually result in physical DEPENDENCE, but chronic abuse leads to passivity, apathy and inertia

From Black's Medical Dictionary, 42nd Edition
Derived from the Mexican peyote cactus, Anhalonium lewinii, this is a hallucinogen used for many centuries by Indian tribes in Mexico as an intoxicant to produce ecstatic states for religious celebrations. In recent times its ability to produce temporary psychotic symptoms has been used to investigate the mechanism of PSYCHOSIS.

From Macmillan Dictionary of Toxicology
A widely abused drug; a sympathomimetic and central stimulant that has been used clinically as an anorectic agent. The use of methamphetamine and related drugs in treating obesity is, however, now generally discredited.

Substance derived by collecting and drying the milky juice in the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. Opium varies in color from yellow to dark brown and has a characteristic odor and a bitter taste.