<unk>  defines a situation in which one has developed one or more of either tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, drug seeking behaviors, such as continued use despite harmful effects, and maladaptive pattern of substance use, according to the DSM-IV. In the case of<unk> , however, the continued use seems to be associated with the avoidance of unpleasant withdrawal reaction rather than from the pleasurable effects of the drug.<unk>  develops with long-term use, even at low therapeutic doses, without the described<unk>  behavior. Addiction consists of people misusing or craving the drug not to relieve withdrawal symptoms, but to experience its euphoric or intoxicating effects. It is necessary to distinguish between addiction to and abuse of<unk> s and physical<unk>  on them. The increased GABA inhibition on the neural systems caused by<unk> s is counteracted by the body's development of tolerance to the drug's effects; the development of tolerance occurs as a result of neuroadaptations, which result in decreased GABA activity and increased excitability of the glutamate system; these adaptations occur as a result of the body trying to overcome the central nervous system depressant effects of the drug to restore homeostasis. When<unk> s are stopped, these neuroadaptations are "unmasked" leading to hyper-excitability of the nervous system and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms. Therapeutic dose<unk>  is the largest category of people dependent on<unk> s. These individuals typically do not escalate their doses to high levels and generally use their medication as intended by their prescriber. Smaller groups include patients escalating their dosage to higher levels and drug misusers as well. Tolerance develops within days or weeks to the anticonvulsant, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and after 4 months there is little evidence that<unk> s retain their anxiolytic properties. Some authors, however, disagree and feel that<unk> s retain their anxiolytic properties. Long-term<unk>  treatment may remain necessary in certain clinical conditions. Numbers of<unk>  prescriptions have been declining, due primarily to concerns of<unk> . In the short term,<unk> s can be effective drugs for acute anxiety or insomnia. With longer-term use, other therapies, both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic, become more effective. This is in part due to the greater effectiveness over time of other forms of therapy, and also due to the eventual development of pharmacological<unk>  tolerance.
Benzodiazepine dependence
Opioid withdrawal
Amphetamine dependence
Drug withdrawal
Nicotine withdrawal
Cocaine dependence
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome
Benzodiazepine use disorder