What is the state of adaptation causing withdrawal symptoms after abrupt cessation of a drug?

The correct answer focuses on dependence, which refers to a physiological state that develops when the body adapts to a drug, resulting in withdrawal symptoms upon its abrupt cessation. Dependence is characterized by changes in the brain and body that lead to a compulsion to continue using the substance to avoid these withdrawal effects. In cases of physical dependence, the individual experiences symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, sweating, and tremors when they stop taking the drug suddenly.

Tolerance, while related, specifically refers to the need for increased doses of a drug to achieve the same effect, rather than the physical symptoms that occur with withdrawal. Overdose refers to the dangerous and potentially fatal consequences of taking a substance in amounts that exceed safe levels. Addiction involves a behavioral aspect where there is a compulsive need to seek out and use the drug, despite harmful consequences, which encompasses both psychological and physical dependence but does not specifically address the state that leads to withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, dependence accurately describes the condition leading to withdrawal symptoms following abrupt cessation of a drug.