Which term describes physical and psychological dependence on and craving for a drug?

• A. Dependence
• B. Craving
• C. Compulsion
• D. Addiction

Answer: (D)

Addiction describes a disease‑like pattern where drug use becomes driven by both physical changes in the body and strong psychological forces. Physiological dependence means the body adapts to the drug, causing tolerance and withdrawal if use stops. Psychological dependence includes cravings and a preoccupation with obtaining and using the drug, often with compulsive drug‑seeking. Because the prompt highlights both physical dependence and craving, addiction best fits this description, as it encompasses tolerance, withdrawal, cravings, and loss of control over use. Dependence by itself tends to refer mainly to physiological adaptation; craving is only the urge; compulsion describes the behavior but doesn’t by itself capture the full pattern of dependence plus craving that addiction represents.