Definition

1. Noun:
   • A compulsive, chronic physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance: "Drug addiction" refers to a state of dependence on a psychoactive drug, characterized by an inability to control its use despite harmful consequences. It involves tolerance (needing more to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Usage

• "Drug addiction" is used as a non-count noun to describe the general condition or state of being addicted.
• It is often discussed in medical, psychological, social, and legal contexts.
• It can be modified by adjectives specifying the type of drug (e.g., ) or the severity (e.g., ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The clinic specializes in treating drug addiction and its underlying causes.
  • He lost his job and family due to his struggle with drug addiction.
  • Public health policies aim to prevent drug addiction through education and early intervention.

Advanced Usage

• "cycle of drug addiction": Refers to the repetitive pattern of craving, use, and negative consequences that is difficult to break.
  • Breaking the cycle of drug addiction often requires comprehensive support.
• "drug addiction treatment": A common compound noun phrase referring to medical and therapeutic interventions.
  • Access to effective drug addiction treatment is a critical public health issue.

Variants and Related Words

• Addiction (n): The broader condition of being addicted to any substance or behavior. "Drug addiction" is a specific type of addiction.
  • Addiction to social media is a growing concern.
• Substance use disorder (n): The clinical and diagnostic term often used interchangeably with or preferred over "drug addiction" in medical contexts, as it encompasses a spectrum of severity.
  • He was diagnosed with a severe substance use disorder.
• Dependence (n): A state of reliance on a substance, which can be physical, psychological, or both. It is a core component of addiction.
  • Physical dependence on the medication developed after long-term use.

Synonyms

• Substance dependence: A more clinical synonym.
• Narcotic addiction: A specific term, often used in legal or older medical texts, referring to addiction to narcotic drugs like opioids.

Related Phrases

• "battle/fight against drug addiction": Describes the effort to overcome addiction.
  • Her lifelong battle against drug addiction was an inspiration.
• "drug addiction epidemic/crisis": Used to describe a widespread, serious public health problem.
  • The country is facing a drug addiction crisis.

Noun

1. an addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug)