IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ADC Practice Questions and Study Guide

When a drug user experiences physical or psychological distress upon discontinuing use of the drug, this phenomenon is referred to as withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can vary significantly in severity and duration depending on the substance involved, the length of use, and the user's overall health. These symptoms might include anxiety, nausea, headaches, sweating, and other physical manifestations that signal the body's need to readjust after the absence of the substance it has become accustomed to.

Dependency is related but refers more broadly to a state where an individual requires the substance to function normally, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms if the substance is not taken. Addiction encompasses a compulsive pattern of use and loss of control, often including psychological components, but does not specifically denote the physical or psychological distress experienced upon cessation, as withdrawal does. Tolerance refers to the body's adaptation to a drug that results in the need for increased amounts to achieve the same effect, rather than the distress experienced from stopping use.