Definitions of Substance Dependence

Abstract

Addiction is a lay term for dependence. The Oxford Dictionary defines dependence as ``the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else (Dependence. Oxford Dictionary. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/dependence).'' For our purpose, the definition becomes ``the state of relying on or being controlled by a drug (including alcohol).'' I will use addiction and dependence as synonyms in this book.