Concept

Limited Utility of Physical Dependence in Diagnosing Substance Use Disorders

Physical dependence, which includes tolerance and withdrawal, is not a definitive indicator of a substance use disorder on its own. This is because a person can develop tolerance and experience withdrawal from various substances without necessarily abusing them. Therefore, the presence of physical dependence alone is of limited value when determining if an individual has a substance use disorder.

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Updated 2026-04-27

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