Withdrawal is the body's reaction to abstaining from a substance upon which a person has developed a dependence syndrome. When dependence has developed, cessation of substance-use produces an unpleasant

Addiction is a complex but treatable condition. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persists even if the

Medical professionals need to apply many techniques and approaches to help patients with substance related disorders. Using a psychodynamic approach is one of the techniques that psychologists use to solve addiction problems. In psychodynamic therapy,

Demographics
Internationally, the U.S. and Eastern Europe contain the countries with the highest substance abuse

Psychological dependence
Two factors have been identified as playing pivotal roles in psychological dependence:

DSM classification
"Substance dependence", as defined in the DSM-IV, can be diagnosed with physiological dependence, evidence of tolerance or withdrawal, or without physiological dependence. DSM-IV substance dependencies

The phenomenon of drug addiction has occurred to some degree throughout recorded history (see "Opium"). Modern agricultural practices, improvements in access to drugs, advancements in biochemistry, and dramatic increases in the recommendation of