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Addiction Medicine Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

Biopsychosocial Formulation

Professional Technical IVT

Comprehensive case conceptualization integrating biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to substance use disorders.

Showing 1–24 of 100

Abstinence Violation Effect

Advanced Technical IVT

Psychological phenomenon where a minor relapse leads to complete abandonment of recovery efforts due to guilt and percei...

AVE
Technical Term Full entry →

abstinence-based treatment

Intermediate Technical IVT

Treatment approach requiring complete cessation of all substance use as the primary goal.

Technical Term Full entry →

Administrative Discharge

Intermediate Technical IVT

Involuntary termination from addiction treatment due to program rule violations rather than clinical reasons or treatmen...

Document Type Full entry →

alexithymia

Advanced Technical IVT

Difficulty identifying and describing emotions, commonly observed in individuals with substance use disorders and consid...

Technical Term Full entry →

anhedonia

Advanced Technical IVT

The inability to experience pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyable, commonly seen during early recovery f...

Technical Term Full entry →

ASAM criteria

Professional Technical IVT

Standardized assessment tool for determining appropriate level of addiction treatment care.

Technical Term Full entry →

ASAM levels of care

Intermediate Technical IVT

Standardized treatment intensity classifications from American Society of Addiction Medicine used for placement decision...

Technical Term Full entry →

AUDIT

Professional Technical IVT

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; standardized screening tool for alcohol use problems.

Abbreviation Full entry →

Biopsychosocial Assessment

Intermediate Technical IVT

A comprehensive evaluation examining biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to addiction and recover...

Technical Term Full entry →

Biopsychosocial Formulation

Professional Technical IVT

Comprehensive case conceptualization integrating biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to substance...

Technical Term Full entry →

Biopsychosocial Model

Intermediate Technical IVT

A comprehensive framework for understanding addiction as involving biological, psychological, and social factors rather...

Technical Term Full entry →

buprenorphine

Professional Technical IVT

Partial opioid agonist medication used in opioid use disorder treatment and pain management.

Technical Term Full entry →

CAGE Questionnaire

Professional Technical IVT

A brief four-question screening tool used to identify potential alcohol problems in clinical settings.

Document Type Full entry →

CIWA-Ar

Professional Technical IVT

Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised, a standardized scale for monitoring alcohol withdrawal sev...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Clinical Holding

Intermediate Technical IVT

Temporary maintenance of current medication dosing while monitoring patient status before making treatment adjustments.

Technical Term Full entry →

co-occurring disorders

Intermediate Technical IVT

The simultaneous presence of substance use disorder and mental illness in the same individual.

Technical Term Full entry →

Concurrent Review

Professional Technical IVT

Ongoing evaluation of treatment necessity and appropriateness conducted during active addiction treatment episodes.

Document Type Full entry →

contingency management

Professional Technical IVT

Behavioral intervention using tangible rewards to reinforce positive behaviors like abstinence or treatment adherence.

Technical Term Full entry →

COWS

Professional Technical IVT

Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale, a standardized assessment tool for measuring opioid withdrawal severity.

Abbreviation Full entry →

Craving

Intermediate Technical IVT

An intense psychological urge or desire to use a substance, often triggered by environmental cues or stress.

Technical Term Full entry →

Cross-Addiction

Professional Technical IVT

The development of an addiction to a different substance while in recovery from another addiction.

Technical Term Full entry →

cross-tolerance

Advanced Technical IVT

Development of tolerance to one substance resulting in tolerance to chemically similar substances.

Technical Term Full entry →

DATA-waiver

Advanced Formal IVT

Federal certification allowing physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction in office settings.

Legal Term Full entry →

detoxification

Intermediate Technical IVT

Medically supervised withdrawal process to safely manage acute physical symptoms of substance cessation.

Technical Term Full entry →
Showing 1–24 of 100

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