Which term describes physical and psychological reliance on a substance, often with tolerance and withdrawal?

Which term describes physical and psychological reliance on a substance, often with tolerance and withdrawal?

• A. Dependence
• B. Acute
• C. Withdrawal
• D. Alcohol

Answer: (A)

Understanding dependence means recognizing how a person becomes physically and psychologically bound to a substance: the body adapts to regular use, leading to tolerance (needing more to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal if use stops. This ongoing reliance describes dependence itself, not just the withdrawal symptoms that can occur when stopping, which is a separate concept. Acute refers to a short-term phase or effect, not the sustained pattern of reliance, and alcohol is simply one substance rather than the general idea. So the term that best fits the description is dependence.

Understanding dependence means recognizing how a person becomes physically and psychologically bound to a substance: the body adapts to regular use, leading to tolerance (needing more to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal if use stops. This ongoing reliance describes dependence itself, not just the withdrawal symptoms that can occur when stopping, which is a separate concept. Acute refers to a short-term phase or effect, not the sustained pattern of reliance, and alcohol is simply one substance rather than the general idea. So the term that best fits the description is dependence.