Synonyms
Definition
Substance abuse (SA) refers to the harmful or risky use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Repeated psychoactive substance use can lead to dependence syndrome – a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that usually includes a strong desire to consume the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and responsibilities, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state (World Health Organization 2018).
Addiction is defined as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to biological, psychological, and social manifestations. This is showed in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Without...
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Moriano, J.A., Lloret, D., von Humboldt, S. (2019). Substance Abuse and Addiction. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_92-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_92-1
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