What is addiction?
Addiction is a dependence on a behavior or sub-stance that a person is powerless to stop. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities. Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping, eating, and sexual activity). There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as polydrug abusers, are addicted to more than one sub-stance or process.
Addiction Medicine Specialist: a medical doctor who specializes in addiction medicine.
Central nervous system (CNS): the brain and spinal cord. Craving: a powerful, often uncontrollable desire for drugs.Diversion Approved: means the treatment program complies with Oregon State requirements for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) offenders.
Diversion: The DUII Diversion Program is a legal agreement with the Court that sets aside a guilty or no contest plea and enables the case to be dismissed in one year if all the terms of the Diversion Agreement are satisfied.
Outpatient Treatment: Outpatient drug rehabilitation means that a person does not live in the facility for treatment, but come to the facility for classes, visits with specialists or group meetings.Intensive day treatment is often as effective as live-in treatment facilities, and is ideal for people that have a strong support system at home.
Tolerance: a condition in which higher doses of a drug are required to produce the same effect as experienced initially; often leads to physical dependence.
Benzodiazepines: drugs that relieve anxiety or are prescribed as sedatives; among the most widely prescribed medications, including valium and Librium.
Detoxification: a process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal; often the first step in a drug treatment program.Dopamine: a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation and feelings of pleasure.
Narcolepsy: a disorder characterized by uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep.
Physical Dependence: an adaptive physiological state that occurs with regular drug use and results in a withdrawal syndrome when drug use stops.
Psychosis: a mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations that indicate an impaired conception of reality.
Seratonin: a neurotransmitter that has been implicated in states of consciousness, mood, depression and anxiety.
Toxic: temporary or permanent drug effects that are detrimental to the functioning of an organ or group of organs. Withdrawal: a variety of symptoms that occur after use of an addictive drug is reduced or stopped.