- * Alcoholic (Adopted 99.10.14) - an imprecise term, referring to an individual experiencing alcohol abuse or dependence.
- * Alcoholism (Adopted 99.10.14) - an imprecise term, which may encompass alcohol abuse or dependence.
*These definitions, and other similar ones, will be put in a separate section for terms that may be in common use but are not recommended for continuing use
- Abuse liability (Adopted 01.10.19) - the propensity of a particular psychoactive substance to result in the development of Substance Use Disorders.
- Addict (Adopted 01.10.19) - someone who has the disease of Addiction
- Addiction (Adopted 99.10.14) - A primary, chronic disease, characterized by impaired control over the use of a psychoactive substance and/or behaviour. Clinically, the manifestations occur along biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual dimensions. Common features are change in mood, relief from negative emotions, provision of pleasure, pre-occupation with the use of substance(s) or ritualistic behaviour(s); and continued use of the substance(s) and/or engagement in behaviour(s) despite adverse physical, psychological and/or social consequences. Like other chronic diseases, it can be progressive, relapsing and fatal.
Consider adding qualifiers such as full, partial remission, etc. based on DSM IV. - Addiction Medicine (Adopted 01.10.19) - a field of Medicine that is focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Substance-Related Disorders and Addiction.
- Addictionist (Adopted 01.10.19) - a physician who has specialized expertise and experience in Addiction Medicine. Sometimes also referred to as an Addictionologist.
- Agonist (Adopted 99.10.14) - a substance that acts at a neuronal receptor to produce effects similar to those of a reference psychoactive substance, e.g. methadone is an agonist at the opioid receptors.
- Antagonist (Adopted 99.10.14) - a substance that counteracts the effects of a reference psychoactive substance by inhibiting or reversing its effects at a neuronal receptor site, e.g. naltrexone acts as an antagonist at the opioid receptor.
- Blackout (Adopted 01.10.19) - a period of memory loss, resulting from the use of alcohol and/or other psychoactive substances, not associated with loss of consciousness.
- Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Adopted 99.10.14) - a condition, as defined by Canadian Pain Society - ? pain lasting at least six months; of a duration longer than the expected time to tissue healing or resolution of the underlying disease process; or due to a condition when there is ongoing nociception.?
- Concurrent Disorders (Adopted 99.10.14) - the presence of one or more primary, physical and/or psychiatric disorders that have an interactive effect on the course of Substance Dependence and require specific diagnosis and treatment in order to achieve stabilization and/or recovery.
i. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights).
- Craving (Adopted 99.10.14) - A bio-psychological arousal and urge to return to addictive behaviour, characterized by a strong desire, pre-occupation and possible impulsivity.
- Dependence potential (Adopted 01.10.19) - the propensity of a particular psychoactive substance to result in the development of Substance Dependence.
- Depressants (Adopted 99.10.14) - a category of psychoactive substances that suppress, inhibit or decrease some aspects of the function of the central nervous system (CNS), e.g. alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines or other sedative/hypnotics.
- Flashbacks (Adopted 01.10.19) - a spontaneous recurrence of previously experienced physical symptoms, perceptual distortions, intense emotions and/or loss of ego boundaries.
- Hallucinogens (Adopted 99.10.14) - a category of psychoactive substances that induce alterations in perception, thinking and feeling, which may resemble functional psychoses, without necessarily producing the gross impairment of memory and orientation, characteristic of the organic syndromes, e.g. cannabis, psilocybin, amphetamine derivatives (MDA, MDMA or ecstasy) and phencyclidine (PCP).
- Harm Reduction (Adopted 99.10.14) - health promotion, prevention, assessment and intervention options that aim to decrease the health and socio-economic consequences of drug use and addictive behaviour, without necessarily requiring abstinence. Abstinence-based strategies are an integral component of comprehensive harm reduction.
- Inhalants (Adopted 01.10.19) - volatile substances that vaporize at ambient temperatures and are inhaled for psychoactive effects, e.g. organic solvents, such as glue, aerosol, paints, industrial solvents, gasoline etc.; and aliphatic nitrites, such as amyl nitrite.
- Intoxication (Adopted 01.10.19) - a physiological condition that follows the administration of psychoactive substances and results in disturbances in perception, cognition, affect, level of consciousness, judgment, behaviour or other psychophysiological functions and responses. The condition varies due to individual biophysiological factors, tolerance, substances used, setting and personal expectations about the effects of psychoactive substance(s).
- Low-risk Drinking (Adopted 01.10.19) - a level of alcohol use that is not likely to produce any acute or chronic harmful effects.
- Maintenance Therapy (Adopted 01.10.19) - treatment of Substance Dependence by a prescription drug, to prevent withdrawal and reduce the harm associated with a particular method of administration, attendant dangers to health and/or social consequences, e.g. methadone for Opioid Dependence or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for tobacco.
i. markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance
- Mutual-help program (Adopted 99.10.14) - a non-professional approach that utilizes individual and group support to aid in the process of recovery from Addiction, eg. Twelve-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, Rational Recovery, Secular Organization for Sobriety (SOS), Women for Sobriety (WFS) etc.
- Psychoactive Substance (Adopted 03.10.17) - a substance that affects thinking (cognitive), feeling (affective) and/or perceptual processes of the brain, e.g. depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids, inhalants, etc.
i. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
ii. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)
iii. recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct)
- Stimulants (Adopted 99.10.14) - a category of psychoactive substances that activate, enhance or increase neural activity in the nervous system, e.g. amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, nicotine etc.
- Substance Abuse (Adopted 99.10.14) - a medical diagnosis, as specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM IV) –
- A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:
i. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)
ii. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
iii. recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct)
iv. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights)
- The symptoms have never met the criteria for Substance Dependence for this class of substance.
- Substance Dependence - a medical diagnosis as specified the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM IV) (Adopted 99.10.14) - A maladaptive pattern of substance use , leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
- tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
i. a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
ii. markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance
- withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
i. the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance (refer to Criteria A and B of the criteria sets for Withdrawal from the specific substances)
ii. the same (or closely related0 substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
- the substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than was intended
- there is persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
- a great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g., visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use the substance (e.g., chain-smoking), or recovering from its effects
- important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
- the substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent of recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine-induce depression, or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)
- Substance Misuse (Adopted 03.10.17) - use of substance(s) for a purpose not consistent with legal guidelines or medical recommendations for dosage intervals or amounts.
- Substance Use Disorders (Adopted 03.10.17) - a category of two disorders, namely, Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence, as in DSM IV.
- Tolerance (Adopted 99.10.14) - same as in criteria (1) of DSM IV definition for Substance Dependence.
- Withdrawal (Adopted 99.10.14) - same as in criteria (2) of DSM IV definition for Substance Dependence.