Drug Dependence & Abuse Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Drug Dependence & Abuse article.
Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ... See the entire definition of AbdominalAbdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ... See the entire definition of Abdominal painAbnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient. Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub... See the entire definition of AbsorptionAcute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th... See the entire definition of AcuteAddiction: An uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance such as alcohol or a... See the entire definition of AddictionAlcoholics Anonymous: A free self-help organization founded to assist people addicted to a... See the entire definition of Alcoholics AnonymousAlcoholism: Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would b... See the entire definition of AlcoholismBenzodiazepines: A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the t... See the entire definition of BenzodiazepinesBlood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is... See the entire definition of Blood pressureBowel: The small and large intestine. Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func... See the entire definition of BrainBreathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ... See the entire definition of BreathingCancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ... See the entire definition of CancerChest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t... See the entire definition of Chest
Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart... See the entire definition of Chest painChronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ... See the entire definition of ChronicChronic pain: Pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over ... See the entire definition of Chronic painCocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive... See the entire definition of CocaineComa: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t... See the entire definition of ComaDepression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way... See the entire definition of DepressionDetox: Short for detoxification, usually from an addictive drug such as alcohol or heroin.... See the entire definition of DetoxDiagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ... See the entire definition of DiagnosisDiarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ... See the entire definition of DiarrheaDischarge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag... See the entire definition of DischargeEcstasy: 1. A state of rapture and trancelike elation. Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica... See the entire definition of Emergency departmentEssential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressur... See the entire definition of EssentialFetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep... See the entire definition of FetusHallucinogenic: 1. As an adjective: Producing hallucinations. From hallucino- + -ge... See the entire definition of Hallucinogenic
Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, irrespective of the cause. Hepatitis is caused by a ... See the entire definition of HepatitisHeroin: Semisynthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced co... See the entire definition of HeroinHIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi... See the entire definition of HIVImpotence: A common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustai... See the entire definition of ImpotenceInpatient: A patient whose care requires a stay in a hospital. As opposed to an outpatient... See the entire definition of InpatientLaboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a... See the entire definition of LaboratoryMarijuana: A common street and recreational drug that comes from the marijuana plant: the ... See the entire definition of MarijuanaMetabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ... See the entire definition of MetabolismMouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con... See the entire definition of MouthMucosa: Having to do with a mucous membrane. For example, the oral mucosa. Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T... See the entire definition of MuscleNausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c... See the entire definition of NoseOnset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex... See the entire definition of Onset
Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func... See the entire definition of OrganOxyContin: A prescription painkiller that has become a popular and dangerous recreational ... See the entire definition of OxyContinPain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainPCP: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup... See the entire definition of PharmacyPoison: Any substance that can cause severe organ damage or death if ingested, breathed in... See the entire definition of PoisonPregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body. Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev... See the entire definition of PrescriptionPrognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan... See the entire definition of PrognosisPsychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty conc... See the entire definition of PsychiatricPulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is... See the entire definition of PulseRape: Forced sexual intercourse; sexual assault; sexual intercourse between an adult and a... See the entire definition of RapeReferral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer... See the entire definition of ReferralRelapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission. Resistance: Opposition to something, or the ability to withstand something. For example, s... See the entire definition of Resistance
Respiratory: Having to do with respiration. Respiratory rate: The number of breaths per minute or, more formally, the number of moveme... See the entire definition of Respiratory rateSleep: The body's rest cycle. Snort: Take in a drug by nasal inhalation. For example, snorting cocaine is inhaling cocai... See the entire definition of SnortStomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp... See the entire definition of StomachSubstance: 1. Material with particular features. Substance abuse: The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug. (There is... See the entire definition of Substance abuseSurgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth... See the entire definition of SurgeonSurgeon General: In the United States, the chief medical officer of the U.S. Public Health... See the entire definition of Surgeon GeneralSyndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process. Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic... See the entire definition of TobaccoVirus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar... See the entire definition of VirusVital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.
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