drug addiction is a clinical diagnosis that ________________________.

Drug addiction is a clinical diagnosis that refers to a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences. It is formally known as Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and is diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The diagnosis involves identifying a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, with symptoms such as impaired control over use, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological effects like tolerance and withdrawal. The severity of the disorder is classified based on the number of symptoms present within a 12-month period, ranging from mild to severe. This clinical understanding highlights addiction as a disease of brain function, requiring medical intervention and evidence-based treatment approaches rather than being solely a matter of willpower or moral failing.