Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 4

2015

Current Concepts on Drug Abuse and

Dependence
Daniela Luiza Baconi
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, daniela_baconi@yahoo.com

Anne-Marie Ciobanu
Carol Davila University of Pharmacy and Medicine

Ana Maria Vlăsceanu

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Oana Denisa Cobani

St. John Emergency Hospital

Carolina Negrei
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

See next page for additional authors

Follow this and additional works at: http://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms

Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

Recommended Citation
Baconi, Daniela Luiza; Ciobanu, Anne-Marie; Vlăsceanu, Ana Maria; Cobani, Oana Denisa; Negrei, Carolina; and Bălălău, Cristian
(2015) "Current Concepts on Drug Abuse and Dependence," Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 4.
Available at: http://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms/vol2/iss1/4

This Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Mind and Medical
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Current Concepts on Drug Abuse and Dependence
Authors
Daniela Luiza Baconi, Anne-Marie Ciobanu, Ana Maria Vlăsceanu, Oana Denisa Cobani, Carolina Negrei,
and Cristian Bălălău

This review article is available in Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: http://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms/vol2/iss1/4
JMMS 2015, 2(1): 18- 33. REVIEW

Current concepts on drug abuse and dependence

Daniela Luiza Baconi1, Anne-Marie Ciobanu2, Ana Maria Vlăsceanu1, Oana Denisa Cobani3,
Carolina Negrei1, Cristian Bălălău4
1
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology
2
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medicines Control
3
St. John Emergency Hospital, Bucur Maternity, Bucharest
4
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of General Medicine, St. Pantelimon Hospital
Corresponding author: Daniela Luiza Baconi, e-mail: daniela_baconi@yahoo.com

Running title: Drug abuse and dependence

Keywords: addiction, drug abuse, psychoactive substances

www.jmms.ro 2015, Vol. II (issue 1): 18- 33.

Date of submission: 2014-10-15; Date of acceptance: 2014-12-11

Abstract

Drug addiction is a complex disease characterized by compulsive and uncontrollable desire to

seek and consume the drug. In time, drug-related terminology has undergone many changes, arising

from the deepening of the mechanisms of action, but also about the need for a greater precision in the

definition.

Drug dependence can be assigned not only to pharmacological effects of the drugs of abuse, but

also to their interaction with each particular neurological and psychological constitution. The research

on the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction processes allows both a better understanding of current

pharmacotherapy and the development of new treatment strategies in drug abuse and dependence. In

this review we intend to present the current concepts related to drug abuse and dependence.
 Drug abuse and dependence

Introduction

In 1957, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence defined habituation. This term is

closely related to another one as old, but widely used today: addiction – the behaviour distinguished

primarily by a conscious, intense desire for the drug and a tendency to relapse due to persistence of

attitudes clearly established in the early stages of addiction. In 1964, the WHO Expert Committee

replaced the terms addiction and habituation with "drug dependence" which has been redefined in 1969.

In this definition the compulsive use of a drug for its psychological effects is the only feature, both

necessary and sufficient to define the drug dependence.

DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), published by the American Psychiatric Association,

combines the DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse and substance dependence into single “substance use

disorders”, specific to each substance of abuse, within a new "Addictions and related disorders"

category. ICD-10 (The 10-th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Health

Problems), is edited by WHO and defines “dependence syndrome”. ICD 10 replaced the term "physical

dependence" with “neuroadaptation”. Also, the term "abuse" is considered relatively ambiguous and

replaced with more specific term "hazardous use" or "harmful use". ICD 11, planned for 2017, includes

“disorders due to substance use” under the category “Mental and behavioural disorders”.

Deepening of the molecular mechanisms of drug abuse and addiction has shown that

psychological and physical dependence are not the only component of long-term drug dependence; in

addition to positive and negative reinforcement, conditioning is a significant component in support the

drug dependence. The common feature for the addictive drugs is that they have a positive reinforcement

("reward") action associated with mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway activation.

Discussion

Drug addiction has been conceptualized as a complex and chronic relapsing mental disorders

characterized by compulsive drug seeking, the lack of capacity to limit the consumption, the emergence

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 Drug abuse and dependence

of a withdrawal syndrome during cessation and the use despite the awareness of the harmful

consequences (1, 2).

According to American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction is a primary chronic

disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuits, characterized by inability to

consistently abstain, impairment in behavioural control, craving, diminished recognition of the

significant behavioural problems and in interpersonal relationships and also dysfunctions of the

emotional response (3). Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and

remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can lead

to disability or premature death.

Usually, addiction represents the syndrome manifested by a particular behaviour in relation to

the use of a substance or a class of psychoactive substances, purchasing and consumption of which is the

priority; in advanced stages, the compulsive behaviour becomes obvious. Compulsion is a behavioural

disorder characterized by an irresistible effusion to perform some acts to which the subject cannot resist,

without finding his inner peace. In usual terms, drugs are illegal substances or diverted from legal use;

however, some specialists do not hesitate to name drugs other substances or products (e.g. alcohol,

tobacco), legal and relatively well integrated social.

Psychoactive substance is defined as any substance which alters perception, behaviour, motor or

cognitive functions (4). It is emphasized that the term psychoactive does not necessarily imply

dependence-producing. Together with its equivalent, psychotropic drug, the term psychoactive substance

is descriptive for the whole class of substances, licit and illicit, of interest to drug policy. Some authors

refer to psychotropic the drugs used primarily in the treatment of mental disorders (sedatives,

anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics), while others apply the term to substance with abuse

susceptibility, because of the effects on disposition or consciousness (stimulants, hallucinogens,

sedative-hypnotics, alcohol). In the context of international control of drugs, psychotropic substances are

20
 Drug abuse and dependence

those set out in the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971). In line with the socio-legal status of

substances used, consumption of psychoactive substances can be classified into 3 categories (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Classification of the psychoactive substances use

Illegal use of psychoactive substances refers to drugs themselves, while the legal consumption

concerns psychoactive substances not subject to legislative control (e.g. caffeine, nicotine, alcohol). The

therapeutic use refers to the administration of psychoactive substances with prescription. In this context,

it is important to distinguish between tolerance and physical dependence phenomena or "rebound" effect

and addiction. Tolerance and physical dependence are physiological adaptations conditions and does not

imply compulsory abuse or addiction. The compulsion phenomenon, an obsessive seeking and use of the

substance is usually seen in addiction behaviour (5, 6).

Classification of the psychoactive substances.

Substances of abuse are often classified by type of action on the central nervous system

(CNS) and/or class to which they belong in terms of chemical structure. Louis Lewin classified the

psychoactive abuse substances in five psychopharmacological groups (7, 8):

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 Drug abuse and dependence

 Euphorica: euforic and narcotic substances that induce a state of physical and mental well: opium

and opium compounds (morphin); cocaine)

 Phantastica: hallucinogenic substances of vegetable origin (mescal buttons, Cannabis)

 Inebriantia: substances that produce a first excitation followed by depression (alcohol, ether,

chloroform)

 Hypnotica: sleep producing substances (chloral hydrate, barbiturates)

 Excitantia: substances that cause mental stimulation; substances from plants that produce general

stimulation without impairment of consciousness (caffeine, tobacco, betel etc.)

In 1967, Jean Delay has proposed the psychiatric classification criteria for the substances acting

on the central nervous system (CNS). He introduced the general term psychotropic for the natural or

synthetic substances that produce psychological changes or alter mental activity, regardless of the nature

of the change or modification. Classification of Jean Delay refers to (9):

 Psycholeptics (mental sedative): hypnotics (chloral hydrate, barbiturates); neuroleptics

(phenothiazines, reserpine, butyrophenones); tranquilizers (meprobamate)

 Psychoanaleptic (mental stimulant): vigilance stimulants (amphetamines); mood stimulants

(iproniazid, imipramine); other stimulants

 Psychedelics (producing mental deviation): hallucinogens, substances that produce

depersonalization effects

The initial classification of drug addiction, pharmacological based include dependence of:

Alcohol, Barbiturates and other sedatives; Opiates; Cocaine; Amphetamines and other stimulants; Khat;

Hallucinogens (LSD); Cannabis (marijuana); Volatile solvents (inhalants) (10). A modern classification,

based on the mechanism of action distinguishes three classes of drugs (11):

 I - substances which activate the membrane receptors coupled to G-proteins (e.g. opiates,
cannabinoids, LSD, mescaline etc.)
 II - substances which bind to the ionotropic receptors and ion channels (barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, nicotine, phencyclidine etc.)
22
 Drug abuse and dependence

 III - substances which bind to the biogenic amine transporters (cocaine, amphetamine, Ecstasy)
The evolution of terminology
Since the early decades of the twentieth century, there have been attempts to define the

dependence on psychoactive substances (toxicomania); these attempts have been shown a difficult

process, as this ensemble of behavioural disorders involves complex biochemical, physiological and

psychological mechanisms distinct from one substance to another.

An official, unitary definition for addiction has been trying to give since 1931 by the

Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and later by World Health Organization (WHO), in 1957, 1964 and

1969. Etymologically, the word "toxicomania" comes from the Greek language from toxikon (poison)

and mania (madness); therefore "madness of poison" (5, 12). First official terms assigned to the

toxicomania refer to habituation and addiction (Figure 2). The term “habituation” refers to the repeated

use of a drug for a psychological desire (without the signs of tolerance or abstinence). The second notion

suggests a vice, a bad habit; however, etymologically, the term addiction comes from Latin: addicere in

the Roman law used to designate the relationship between two people in a debtor-creditor relationship;

addictus was a slave coming from a debtor.

In 1964, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence has replaced the terms habituation

and addiction with "drug dependence", redefined in 1969 (13). According to WHO (1964, 1969), the

drug dependence is a state psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting from the interaction between

an organism and a drug, condition characterized by behavioural and other responses that always include

the compulsion to take the drug in a continuously or periodically way to experience its psychic effects,

and sometimes to prevent the discomfort given by its absence. Tolerance may or may not be present. In

this definition, the compulsive use of a drug for its psychological effects is the only feature, both

necessary and sufficient to define the drug addiction. Physical dependence and tolerance may be present,

but none is either necessary or sufficient in itself to define the drug addiction. This definition makes

23
 Drug abuse and dependence

psychological dependence the only condition for drug dependence, cancelling the physical dependence

as necessary or sufficient.

Figure 2 The characteristics of habituation and addiction

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and International Classification (ICD)

Two diagnostic systems are now

recognized: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

(DSM 5 in force) published by the American

Psychiatric Association (APA) and International

Classification (ICD), published by WHO (ICD 10

in force) (14, 15). Terminology concerning the drug

consumption and the developing of addiction evolved Figure 3 The evolution of terminology on drug dependence

from the first notions that defined habituation and addiction to present concepts of "dependence

syndrome" (ICD 10) or "substance use disorder" (DSM 5) (Figure 3).

24
 Drug abuse and dependence

The diagnostic system for mental disorders published in 1994 (DSM IV) by the American

Psychiatric Association has used the term "substance dependence", for the general behavioural

syndrome produced by repeated use of substances. Thus, DSM IV has defined and established distinct

diagnostic criteria for dependence and abuse (16).

Substance dependence was defined as a set of symptoms that indicate continued use of a

substance despite the major problems generated by it. Withdrawal symptoms and tolerance may be

present, but not a sine qua non for the diagnosis of substance dependence. It is a way of self

administration of a substance that typically causes tolerance, withdrawal and compulsive consumption

behaviour. According to DSM IV, the abuse is less severe diagnostic and involves a series of adverse

events caused by repeated use of a substance which does not meet the criteria for substance dependence.

DSM 5 (in force from May 2013) does not distinctly conceptualize anymore the abuse and

dependence, but puts them together in what it calls "substance use disorder". DSM 5 combines abuse

and dependence into a single disorder of graded clinical severity and requires two criteria to make a

diagnosis. The DSM-IV diagnosis of substance dependence requires the presence of as few as 3 of 7

symptoms possible (17- 22). This modification has been made as there is no evidence of a distinction

between abuse and dependence. Specifically, DSM 5 refers to "substance use and addictive disorders",

including both "substance use disorder" and addictions that are not induced by substances (eg. gambling

disorder, formerly called impulse control disorders). In DSM 5 are established diagnostic criteria for:

use disorder, intoxication and withdrawal status and on various psychoactive substances (examples are

shown in Table I):

Table I Diagnostic criteria for substance use addictive disorder (according to DSM 5, 2013)

Diagnostic criteria (DSM V)

Use disorder Intoxication Withdrawal
Alcohol Alcohol Alcohol
Amphetamines Amphetamines Amphetamines

25
 Drug abuse and dependence

Cannabis Cannabis Cannabis

Cocaine Cocaine Cocaine
Hallucinogens Hallucinogens -
Inhalants Inhalants -
Opioids Opioids Opioids
Phencyclidine Phencyclidine -
Sedatives, hypnotics, Sedatives, hypnotics, Sedatives, hypnotics,
anxiolytics anxiolytics anxiolytics
Tobacco - Tobacco
*
Caffeine Caffeine
Others(or unknown) Others(or unknown) Others(or unknown)

*
the disorder of the caffeine use is proposed for the section III of DSM-V, which includes the conditions
that require further research.
*
patients in treatment under medical supervision, with analgesics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and beta-
blockers are excluded.
Substance use disorder (DSM 5) is defined as a maladaptive pattern of the use of a substance,

leading to clinically significant deficiency or distress, characterized by two (or more) of the following

criteria for classification, occurring within a 12-month period (14):

 Recurrent substance use, resulting in failure to fulfil the major obligations at work, school or home

 The repeated use of the substance in situations of physical risk (driving a car, operating machinery)

 Keep consuming despite the persistence or recurrence of certain social or interpersonal problems

caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance

 Tolerance*, reflected in the need of a significantly higher dose in order to achieve the intoxication

state or the desired effect or by substantially diminished effect on the continued use of the same

amount

 Withdrawal*, manifested by the characteristic withdrawal syndrome or by taking the substance (or

one related) to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms

26
 Drug abuse and dependence

 The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over longer periods than was intended

 Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to stop or control substance use

 Much of the time spent with activities for purchasing the substance, its use or for recovery from the

effects produced

 Important social, professional or recreational activities are abandoned or reduced because of

substance use

 The substance use is continued despite knowledge of some physical or mental problems, persistent

or recurrent, caused or exacerbated by the substance used

 Craving, intense wish and or need for using a certain substance

To be specified: the severity, the presence or absence of physiological dependence, the evolution:

early complete remission, early partial, fully supported, partially supported on agonist therapy in a

controlled environment. In assessing the severity of substance use disorder, meeting 2-3 criteria

indicates a mild disorder; fulfilment of 4-5 criteria shows a moderate disorder, and 6 or more criteria, a

severe disorder. DSM 5 combines the diagnostic criteria for dependence and abuse of DSM IV, removes

the criterion relating to the commission of illegal acts and introduces the criterion of "craving"

("appetite", "psychological thirst"). In DSM V is also included the criteria for the diagnostic of cannabis

withdrawal.

ICD 10 (The 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems),

developed by WHO defines dependence syndrome as a cluster of physiological, behavioural and

cognitive phenomena where the use of a substance or class of substances acquires a much higher priority

for an individual than other behaviours that previously had a higher value. ICD 10 does not refer to

medicines or drugs, but to psychoactive substance self-administrated due to its reinforcing properties,

and also to the non-therapeutic substances used.

As the term “abuse” is considered ambiguous, ICD replaced it with a more specific phrase “risky

use" or "harmful use" (ICD 10) (Table II). This represents a maladaptive pattern of a psychoactive
27
 Drug abuse and dependence

substance use causing danger (harmful) to physical or mental health; it has usually, but not invariably

adverse social consequences (15).

The criteria of ICD 10 for dependence syndrome have provoked debates regarding the

compulsory of quantifiable criteria (e.g. tolerance, withdrawal) for diagnostic, because most of the

criteria required involves cognitive elements less accessible to the biological measurements (ex. strong

desire or compulsion), which involves insight in the consumer perception and associate the idea of

craving (also with difficulties in defining).

Removing dichotomy abuse/dependence has sparked much discussion and debate in the pre-

emergence phase of DSM V, because this change has considered, primarily, the lack of evidence to

support an intermediate stage and a distinction between the behavioural disorders of abuse and

addiction. Furthermore, the new terminology in DSM V was proposed to avoid the confusion between

physical dependence or "rebound" type phenomena, possible in the context of a proper use of the

prescribed drugs for various conditions (pain, anxiety, even HTA) and addiction as disorder behaviour.

Introducing the new terminology in DSM V ("substance use disorder"), included in the

"addiction and related disorders" removes such controversies regarding the creation of "medical addicts"

by prescribing opioids. Based on clinical data, some experts are reluctant in giving up separated

categories of addiction and abuse and show that, in addition, DSM V is no longer correlated with ICD.

The ICD 11 edition prepared by the WHO is planned for 2017. In the draft of ICD 11, now under

debate, disorders due to substance use are included in “07 Mental and behavioural disorders” (Table II).

Disorders due to substance use are defined as mental and behavioural disorders that develop as a result

of the use of predominantly psychoactive substances, including medications (23). In line with ICD 11,

disorders due to substance use include:

 Substance intoxication

 Harmful use of substances

 Substance dependence

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 Drug abuse and dependence

 Substance withdrawal

 Substance-induced mental disorders (specific types of mental or behavioural symptoms

developing as a result of substance use).

Table II Current diagnostic criteria on drug dependence

DSM V* Substance use disorders
ICD 10* Dependence syndrome “harmful use” (harmful use)
at least three of the following criteria occur pattern of use of a psychoactive
within 12 months: substance, harmful to the physical or
mental health
 strong will or compulsion
 difficulty in controlling the use behaviour
 withdrawal at the discontinuance or reducing
of consumption
 proofs of tolerance
 progressively neglect the alternative interests
and concerns, increasing the time required for
the purchase, consumption or recovery from the
effects
 persistence in consumption, despite of the clear
evidences of harmful consequences
“physically dependence” was replaced with cu
“neuroadaptation”
ICD 11** Disorders due to substance use
* **
in force; planed for 2017

Current concepts on drug dependence

Drug dependence usually involves the following:

 psychological dependence – impaired psychological control over drug use; it is the result of a

interaction of a set of pharmacological (potential conditioning factors), psychological (primary

conditioning factors) and social (group influences or the social acceptability of the drug) factors

 physical dependence - embodied in withdrawal syndrome at the interruption of the chronic

consumption, on long periods or at reduction of the doses

 tolerance - reducing sensitivity to a substance after its repeated administration; is manifested by

the need to increase the dose to achieve the same effect

29
 Drug abuse and dependence

 psychotoxicity - serious behavioural change, of psychotic grade, following prolonged use of high

doses (obvious to alcohol, barbiturates, cocaine, LSD, amphetamines).

As a result of the rapid development of neuroscience in the last two decades the concepts on

abuse of addiction-forming substances have been revolutionized and nowadays drug abuse is a

phenomenon (24). Constant efforts to deepen the mechanisms of action of various drugs have led to

changes in terminology and the emergence of new concepts. In literature, the concepts of reward and

positive reinforcement are often used to describe the effects of drug abuse. Thus, the term

“reinforcement” refers to the strengthening of an action by increasing the probability of its occurring in

response to a stimulus, in order to obtain a reward or avoid discomfort and is closely related to the

concept of conditional learning. Research has concluded that drug self-administration acts as a positive

reward (getting effects) and/or negative reward (to avoid withdrawal symptoms) (25). Hus, the abuse

substances can be defined as reinforcers, as they increase and maintain the development of a specific

behaviour. A behavioural response that increases as a "reward" after the dose is called "positive

reinforcement", and the response that increases after the suppression of dose ("punishment") is called

"negative reinforcement". Accordingly, the abuse substances are defined as positive reinforcers and

negative reinforcers.

Research regarding the action mechanisms of drugs of abuse indicates that their reinforcing

properties may be due to actions on a common neural circuit, these substances altering the normal

neurochemical processes. As a result of repeated administration of drugs of abuse neuroadaptive

responses occur. The tolerance develops to at least some of the effects, and a withdrawal syndrome is

associated with most drugs of abuse. Certain aspects of withdrawal, such as changes in mood and

motivation, induced by chronic consumption of the drug may be key factors for relapse and drug

obsessive search behaviour (2, 26).

The most consistent and coherent theory of the mechanisms involved in the development of drug
addiction is that substances of abuse activate the mesolimbic dopamine system, which reinforces both
30
 Drug abuse and dependence

pharmacological natural rewards. Thus, CNS regions which are believed to be critical in mediating the
highs and reinforcing effects of the abuse substances include dopamine mezocorticolimbic system
comprising the efferent neurons of the ventral tegmental area dopamine to the nucleus accumbens and
the amygdala, cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex. The natural rewards (food, sexual attraction)
stimulates the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens; with habituation, they no longer causes the
activation of dopamine neurons, which is activated by stimuli (cues) in the environment that predict
reward availability. Unlike to natural rewards, abuse substances increase dopamine in nucleus
accumbens even after reinforcement is learned and thus the brain continues to perceive the drug as a new
or unexpected reward. However, the chronic administration of drugs results in molecular changes in
various neurotransmitter systems, that are involved in the development of dependence on a single drug
(1).
The developing of drug addiction is a complex and insufficiently clarified process. Among the
factors favouring the development of drug dependence, there are factors related to drug such as
pharmacodynamic profile, pharmacokinetic characteristics, the amount consumed, frequency of use,
route of administration). Subject relating and environmental factors (socio-cultural, community attitudes,
etc.) are also implied. Over the last few decades, numerous genetic and environmental factors that
contribute to the development of addiction have been identified. Genetic factors account for 30-60% of
the overall risk for the development of drug addiction as it is suggested by the twin and familial studies
(12).

Conclusions
Drug dependence is a complex behavioral, cognitive, and psychological phenomena. It develops
under repeated administration (continuous or episodic) of a abuse substance, through the stages of
experimentation; recreational or social conditioned use; abstention; habitual consumption; abuse;
addiction. Drug dependence occurs in a wide range of psychoactive substances acting through different
mechanisms.
Drug dependence can be assigned not only to pharmacological effects of the drugs of abuse, but
also to their interaction with each particular neurological constitution. This constitution varies as a first

31
 Drug abuse and dependence

result of the individual's genetic inheritance, and, second, of the experiences and influences from the
environment.

Acknowledgment
This paper was co-financed from the European Social Fund, through the Sectorial Operational
Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, project number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/138907
"Excellence in scientific interdisciplinary research, doctoral and postdoctoral, in the economic, social
and medical fields -EXCELIS", coordinator The Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

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