Substance Abuse Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Substance 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 painAddiction: An uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance such as alcohol or a... See the entire definition of AddictionAlcohol abuse: Use of alcoholic beverages to excess, either on individual occasions (binge... See the entire definition of Alcohol abuseAlcoholism: Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would b... See the entire definition of AlcoholismAmnesia: An impairment to or lack of memory. Antegrade amnesia refers to a lack of memory ... See the entire definition of AmnesiaAnesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s... See the entire definition of AnestheticAnxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa... See the entire definition of AnxietyBlood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is... See the entire definition of Blood pressureBlurred vision: Lack of sharpness of vision with, as a result, the inability to see fine d... See the entire definition of Blurred visionBotulism: An uncommon but potentially very serious illness, a type of food poisoning, that... See the entire definition of BotulismBrain: 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 CancerCannabis: Marijuana (Cannibis sativa), a drug derived from the family of plants that inclu... See the entire definition of CannabisChest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t... See the entire definition of ChestChest 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 ChronicCocaine: 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 ComaCough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa... See the entire definition of CoughDelirium: A sudden state of severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function, sometime... See the entire definition of DeliriumDelirium tremens: A central nervous system symptom of alcohol withdrawal that is seen in c... See the entire definition of Delirium tremensDepression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way... See the entire definition of DepressionDiagnosis: 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 DischargeDizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ... See the entire definition of DizzinessEcstasy: 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 departmentEmphysema: 1) A lung condition featuring an abnormal accumulation of air in the lung's ma... See the entire definition of EmphysemaEsophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie... See the entire definition of EsophagusFamily history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform... See the entire definition of Family historyFever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr... See the entire definition of FeverHallucinogen: A drug that causes hallucinations (profound distortions in a person's percep... See the entire definition of HallucinogenHallucinogenic: 1. As an adjective: Producing hallucinations. From hallucino- + -ge... See the entire definition of HallucinogenicHeadache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he... See the entire definition of HeadacheHeart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHeart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ... See the entire definition of Heart diseaseHeart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ... See the entire definition of Heart rateHeart valves: There are four heart valves. All are one-way valves. Blood entering the ... See the entire definition of Heart valvesHepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, irrespective of the cause. Hepatitis is caused by a ... See the entire definition of HepatitisHepatitis B: Inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus (HBV), once thought t... See the entire definition of Hepatitis BHeroin: Semisynthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced co... See the entire definition of HeroinHigh blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro... See the entire definition of High blood pressureHormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit... See the entire definition of HormoneInhalant: 1. Generally, any breathable chemical vapor. Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot... See the entire definition of InjuryInternal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ... See the entire definition of Internal medicineJaundice: Yellow staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) by abnormally h... See the entire definition of JaundiceKidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid... See the entire definition of KidneyLeg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an... See the entire definition of LegLightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc... See the entire definition of LightheadednessLiver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t... See the entire definition of LiverLow blood pressure: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individua... See the entire definition of Low blood pressureLung cancer: Cancer of the major organ of respiration - the lung. Lung cancer kills more m... See the entire definition of Lung cancerLungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon... See the entire definition of LungsMalnutrition: A term used to refer to any condition in which the body does not receive eno... See the entire definition of MalnutritionMarijuana: A common street and recreational drug that comes from the marijuana plant: the ... See the entire definition of MarijuanaMDMA: Abbreviation for 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine. See: Ecstasy. Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ... See the entire definition of MemoryMethadone: A synthetic opiate. The most common medical use for methadone is as a legal sub... See the entire definition of MethadoneMouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con... See the entire definition of MouthMuscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T... See the entire definition of MuscleNarcotic: 1. A drug that causes insensibility or stupor. A narcotic induces narcosi... See the entire definition of NarcoticNausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an... See the entire definition of NerveNicotine: An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the tobacco plant or produc... See the entire definition of NicotineNIDA: Stands for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the National Institutes of H... See the entire definition of NIDANIH: National Institutes of Health. Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c... See the entire definition of NosePain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainPancreas: A spongy, tube-shaped organ that is about 6 inches long and is located in the ba... See the entire definition of PancreasPCP: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Peptic ulcer: An ulcer in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. Peptic ulcers... See the entire definition of Peptic ulcerPharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup... See the entire definition of PharmacyPregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi... See the entire definition of PregnancyPrescription: 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 PrognosisPsychosis: In the general sense, a mental illness that markedly interferes with a person'... See the entire definition of PsychosisPublic health: The approach to medicine that is concerned with the health of the community... See the entire definition of Public healthRecurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha... See the entire definition of RecurrentRelapse: 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 ResistanceRohypnol: The trade name for flunitrazepam, which has been abused as a 'date rape' drug. R... See the entire definition of RohypnolRoofies: Street term for Rohypnol. Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge... See the entire definition of SedativeSeizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv... See the entire definition of SeizureSensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming... See the entire definition of SensationSleep: The body's rest cycle. Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp... See the entire definition of StomachStroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood... See the entire definition of StrokeSubstance: 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 abuseSuicidal: Pertaining to suicide. the taking of ones own life. As in a suicidal gesture, su... See the entire definition of SuicidalSweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The... See the entire definition of SweatingTestosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages th... See the entire definition of TestosteroneTetanus: An often fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tet... See the entire definition of TetanusTiredness: See: Tired. Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic... See the entire definition of TobaccoTrauma: A physical or emotional injury. Tremor: An abnormal, repetitive shaking movement of the body. Tremors have many causes and... See the entire definition of TremorTrigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose... See the entire definition of TriggerUlcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ... See the entire definition of UlcerUrine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm... See the entire definition of UrineVeterinary medicine: The medical science concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and preve... See the entire definition of Veterinary medicineWeight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die... See the entire definition of Weight lossWithdrawal symptoms: Abnormal physical or psychological features that follow the abrupt di... See the entire definition of Withdrawal symptoms
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