Drug Dependence - Duct

drug dependence

A psychic (and sometimes physical) state resulting from interaction of a living organism and a drug. Characteristic behavioral and other responses include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis to experience its psychic effects or to avoid the discomfort of its absence. Tolerance may be present. A person may become dependent on more than one drug.

drug development, computer-assisted

ABBR: CADD. The automated design and testing of new chemical compounds for therapeutic use. Commonly, CADD involves using computerized algorithms to build molecules with specific sizes, shapes, or combining characteristics and assessing the biological activity of the molecules in various solutions.

Drug Enforcement Administration number

ABBR: DEA number. A number assigned by the DEA to health care providers indicating that the person or facility is registered with the DEA to prescribe controlled substances.

druggable, drugable

(drŭg′ă-bĕl) 1. Amenable to treatment with drugs or susceptible to alteration or manipulation with drugs. 2. In genetics, pert. to the ability of a molecule to regulate the function of an endogenous protein for the benefit of the organism. druggability, n. drugability (-bil′ĭt-ē), n.

druggist

(drŭg′ĭst) Pharmacist.

drug handling

The manipulation of medications in order to administer them. It is important to carefully read the label or other printed instruction issued with medications. The ordered doses (quantities) should be measured accurately and never estimated. A measuring glass or spoon marked in milliliters, ounces, or both should be used. In giving a dose of medicine, it is necessary to know to whom it is to be given, what is to be given, when it is to be given, and the prescribed amount. If medicine is to be taken orally, the patient should be observed until he or she has actually swallowed it.

 NOTE: The cover must never be left off the container because a necessary property may evaporate, the drug may become dangerously concentrated, or it may absorb moisture from the air and become difficult to handle or dilute. The drug storage compartment must be kept locked.

drug holiday

A planned interruption in the use of a medication, usually to minimize its costs, limit side effects, or to preserve its effectiveness for later use.

drug-in-adhesive patch

ABBR: DIA. A transdermal medication delivery system in which the active drug that is administered to the patient is combined with the agent that holds or adheres the delivery system to the skin. DIA patches are thinner than patches in which the adhesive and active drug layers are separated. They fit the skin more closely and with less bulk than alternative transdermal delivery systems.