Which term is used to describe the craving for a drug and the psychological need to obtain it?

The term that describes the craving for a drug and the psychological need to obtain it is psychological dependence. This form of dependence occurs when a person feels compelled to use a substance to achieve feelings of well-being or to avoid negative emotions. The psychological aspect focuses on the emotional and mental aspects of addiction, highlighting how the individual may believe they need the drug to function normally or alleviate psychological distress.

In contrast, physical dependence refers to the body's adaptation to the substance, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not available. Tolerance involves the need for increasing doses of a drug to achieve the same effect, indicating a change in how the body responds to the substance. Withdrawal describes the physical and emotional symptoms experienced when a person stops using a drug they have become dependent on. While all these terms are related to substance use and addiction, psychological dependence specifically captures the craving and mental need for the drug.