Drug Dependence
Symptoms of Substance Dependence Associated with Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Illicit
Drugs --- United States, 1991--1992
Each year in the United States, approximately 400,000 deaths result from cigarette
smoking, 100,000 from misuse of alcohol, and 20,000 from use of illicit drugs. Many of
the adverse health effects associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs
result from long-term use caused by substance dependence (i.e., addiction)---a cluster of
cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating sustained psychoactive
substance use despite substance-related problems. In addition, substance dependence is
characterized by repeated self-administration that usually results in tolerance,
withdrawal, and compulsive drug-taking behavior. Nicotine is the psychoactive substance
in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco that accounts for the addictive properties of
tobacco. In addition to tobacco, other potentially addictive substances include alcohol,
marijuana, and cocaine. To assess the prevalence of selected indicators of substance
dependence among the U.S. population, CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse
analyzed data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) for 1991--1992.
The findings in this report suggest that a symptom of substance dependence is more likely
to be reported by persons who smoke cigarettes and persons who use cocaine than by
persons who use alcohol or marijuana.
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