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Drug Addiction

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Drug Addiction
Drug Addiction
A drug addiction is an ongoing need to use drugs. It is also called substance dependence, because the person may depend on drugs to continue functioning normally. Like any addiction, it involves a craving, or strong want, that is very hard to control.[1] When the addict is no longer able to use the drug, they will suffer from withdrawal.[2]
A person usually become addicted to specific kinds of drugs, the use of which may or may not be against the law.
A person who may easily become addicted to drugs is said to have an addictive personality. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines drug addiction as a mental disorder.
Causes
Drugs known to cause addiction include both legal and illegal drugs as well as prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.[citation needed]
Stimulants (psychological addiction, moderate to severe):
Substituted amphetamines
Cocaine
Caffeine
Nicotine
Sedatives and hypnotics (physical addiction, mild to severe, and physiological addiction, severe; abrupt withdrawal may be fatal):
Alcohol
Barbiturates and glutethimide
Benzodiazepines,particularly alprazolam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, temazepam, and nimetazepam
Z-drugs like zopiclone have a similar effect in the body to benzodiazepines
Methaqualone and the related quinazolinone sedative-hypnotics
Opiate and opioid analgesics (physical addiction, mild to severe, physiological addiction, mild to severe; abrupt withdrawal is unlikely to be fatal):
Morphine and codeine, the two naturally occurring opiate analgesics
Semi-synthetic opiates, such as heroin (diacetylmorphine; morphine diacetate), oxycodone, buprenorphine, and hydromorphone
Fully synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, meperidine/pethidine, and methadone
Addictive drugs also include a large number of substrates that are currently considered to have no medical value and are not available over the counter or by


Bibliography: 1. http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_addiction 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence 3. http://www.mrsikhnet.com/2006/11/30/drug-addiction-in-punjab-3ho-superhealth/
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