Describing addiction: physical and psychological dependence, tolerance and withdrawal syndrome
Addiction involves the body and mind becoming reliant on a substance or behaviour. Four key features describe it: physical dependence, psychological dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal syndrome.
Real World
A regular coffee drinker who needs three cups to feel alert instead of one is showing tolerance, and the headache they get when they skip a morning coffee is withdrawal syndrome.
Exam Focus
Define all four features separately — examiners award distinct marks for physical dependence, psychological dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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