Overview

What Is Substance Abuse?

Substance abuse is "a recurring pattern of alcohol or other drug use which substantially impairs a person's functioning in one or more important life areas such as familial, vocational/employment, psychological, legal, social or physical (National Institute on Chemical Dependency, 2005)."

What is Dependency?

Dependency is "dependent use which is a primary chronic disease with genetic, psychological and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations including physical/physiological dependence as evidenced by withdrawal. Psychological dependence is evidenced by a subjective need for a specific psychoactive substance such as alcohol or a drug. Women who abuse substances or are chemically dependent require different interventions than men (National Institute on Chemical Dependency, 2005)."

What is Addiction?

Addiction or Addictive Process is "a complex, progressive behavior pattern having biological, psychological, sociological and behavioral components. The addicted individual has pathological involvement in or attachment to a behavior (substance use); is subject to a compulsion to continue to use and has reduced ability to exert personal control over the use (National Institute on Chemical Dependency, 2005)."

References

National Institute on Chemical Dependency (2005).
    Pregnancy and substance abuse.
    Retrieved on April 2, 2006 from
    http://www.nicd.us/pregnancyandmoodalteringchemicals.html

Last modified April 2, 2006.