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Earlier I said "problem" I did not say "addiction"....an important distinction especially as the US government holds hearings on our industry...
From: The Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute -NY
Definition - Relationships and Distinctions: Addiction, Physical Dependence & Tolerance
Per the recently published consensus document from AAPM/APS/ASAM
Addiction: A primary, chronic neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.
Physical Dependence A state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.
Tolerance A state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution of one or more of the drug's effects over time.
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