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Substance Abuse pp 1–15Cite as

Definition and Demographics of Addiction

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Abstract

Addiction is a disease manifested as detrimental behavior to self or others. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) currently defines addiction as, “…a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.” The ASAM’s focus on addiction as biological disease is in contrast to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM IV) definition of addiction as, “…abuse and dependence, a disease of apparently equal part behavior and biology.” Understanding the importance of addiction demographics can elucidate directions of research in treatment and prevention that may be tailored to the individual patient.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Andrei D. Sdrulla M.D., Ph.D., Grace Chen M.D. & Kim Mauer M.D.

Authors
  1. Andrei D. Sdrulla M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Grace Chen M.D.
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  3. Kim Mauer M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrei D. Sdrulla M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University Interim Hospital, and Ochsner Kenner Hospital, Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Alan David Kaye

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Nalini Vadivelu

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard D. Urman

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Sdrulla, A.D., Chen, G., Mauer, K. (2015). Definition and Demographics of Addiction. In: Kaye, A., Vadivelu, N., Urman, R. (eds) Substance Abuse. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1951-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1951-2_1

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