Addiction Treatment Vocabulary

5 words in this vocabulary list

cocaine opiate sobriety drunk tank abstinence syndrome

cocaine

noun a powerful and addictive stimulant drug derived from the coca plant

  • The police seized a large quantity of cocaine in the drug bust.
  • I heard that John got caught with cocaine at the party last night.
  • Some people call cocaine 'coke' or 'blow'.
  • His addiction to cocaine was like a dark cloud hanging over his life.

opiate

noun a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain

adjective relating to or resembling opium

  • The doctor prescribed an opiate to manage the patient's pain.
  • I heard that opiate is really strong stuff, be careful with it.
  • Some people abuse opiates to get high.
  • Music is like an opiate for the soul, it can soothe and heal in ways nothing else can.

sobriety

noun the state or quality of being sober or temperate, especially the abstention from alcohol or other intoxicating substances

  • Maintaining sobriety is essential for those recovering from addiction.
  • I'm trying to stay sober, so I'll pass on the drinks tonight.
  • I'm on the wagon, so no alcohol for me.
  • His sobriety of mind was evident in his clear decision-making.

drunk tank

noun a place where intoxicated individuals are held temporarily until they sober up

  • The police officer escorted the unruly individual to the drunk tank for public intoxication.
  • They threw him in the drunk tank after he couldn't stand up straight.
  • He ended up in the drunk tank after a wild night of partying.
  • After a long day at work, I feel like I need to spend some time in a mental drunk tank to unwind.

abstinence syndrome

noun a set of symptoms that occur when a person stops taking a drug or substance that they have become dependent on

  • Abstinence syndrome refers to the symptoms that occur when someone suddenly stops using a substance they are dependent on.
  • Going through abstinence syndrome can be really tough, but it's worth it to get clean and sober.
  • Quitting cold turkey can lead to some serious abstinence syndrome, so it's best to taper off slowly.
  • Dealing with the abstinence syndrome of social media addiction can feel like going through withdrawal.