Addiction and Chemical Dependency

Chemical dependency occurs when a person repeatedly uses a chemical substance such as drugs or alcohol until the mind and body experience some discomfort without continued use of the substance. The most common chemical dependency is a reliance on caffeine, the most widely used drug on the planet, in the form of coffee, tea, or other beverages. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines substance use disorder in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as "a problematic pattern of using alcohol or another substance that results in impairment in daily life or noticeable distress." Severe substance use disorders are called addictions. The body can become addicted to many substances. Some health professionals identify other,...