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DRUG DEPENDENCE
"Drug dependence"
means a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is
defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association.
Source:
General Statutes § 21a-240 (18) (applies to Chapter 420b: Dependency
Producing Drugs, §§ 21a-240 -- 21a-283a).
Commentary:
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders IV (4th Ed. 1994) p. 181, establishes the
following criteria for substance dependence: A maladaptive pattern of
substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress,
as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time
in the same 12-month period:
(1) tolerance, as
defined by either of the following:
(a) a need
for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication
or desired effect;
(b)
markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the
substance;
(2) withdrawal, as
manifested by either of the following:
(a) the
characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance (refer to Criteria
A and B of the criteria sets for Withdrawal from the specific
substances);
(b) the
same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid
withdrawal symptoms;
(3) the substance
is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was
intended;
(4) there is a
persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control
substance use;
(5) a great deal
of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g.,
visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use the substance
(e.g., chain-smoking), or recover from its effects;
(6) important
social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced
because of substance use;
(7) the substance
use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent
physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or
exacerbated by the substance (e.g., current cocaine use despite
recognition of cocaine-induced depression, or continued drinking despite
recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).
"Under the factors
established by the American Psychiatric Association in the mental
disorders manual, an individual must exhibit three or more of the seven
designated criteria to be classified as 'drug dependent.'" State v.
Stewart, 77 Conn. App. 393, 401, cert. denied, 265 Conn. 906 (2003)
(rejecting defendant's claim that a person who depends on drugs to treat
a medical condition is "drug dependent").
Glossary
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