Chemical (Drug) Abuse

I.   A maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to impairment or distress, presenting as one or more of the following in a 12-month period:

1. recurrent use leading to failure to fulfill major obligations
2. recurrent use which is physically hazardous
3. recurrent drug-related legal problems
4. continued use despite social or interpersonal problems

1. The symptoms have never met the criteria for chemical dependence.

Chemical (Drug) Dependence

1. A maladaptive pattern of drug use, leading to impairment or distress, presenting as three or more of the following in a 12-month period:
   
   
   1. tolerance to the drug's actions
   2. withdrawal
   3. drug is used more than intended
   4. there is an inability to control drug use
   5. effort is expended to obtain the drug
   6. important activities are replaced by drug use
   7. drug use continues despite knowledge of a persistent physical or psychological problem
   
   
   
2. Two types of dependence can occur:

A) with physiological dependence (including either items 1 or 2), or
B) without physiological dependence (including neither items 1 nor 2).
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Source: Adapted from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition - Text Revision, 2000.