Understanding Addiction


 

The last 2 diagnostic criteria that we will look at while making a diagnosis of dependence is salience and harmful use.

Salience means importance. Progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of psychoactive substance use, increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take the substance or to recover from its effects;

Harmful use:
Persisting with substance use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences, such as harm to the liver through excessive drinking, depressive mood states consequent to heavy substance use, or substance-related impairment of cognitive functioning. Efforts should be made to determine that the user was actually, or could be expected to be, aware of the nature and extent of the harm.

Any 3 of the 6 criteria, if present in the last 12 months indicates presence of dependence, a condition that requires medical attention to deal with.
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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