Analysis of how the terms ‘chemical dependency,’ ‘toxicomania,’ and ‘drug addiction’ are used in Psychology in Brazil

Abstract

The use of psychoactive substance is a widespread phenomenon in the Brazilian society, so it is named several ways, for instance, toxicomania, drug addiction and chemical dependency. The purpose of this study is to analyze how Psychology has addressed this phenomenon and used these three terms. A scientific literature review was conducted with studies on this theme on the portal of Capes (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), published in national Psychology journals. The following keywords were inserted separately for the search: chemical dependency, toxicomania, and drug addiction. The three terms are used as synonyms, although presenting minor differences between one another. “Chemical dependency” is commonly found in disease classification manuals and more widely used in research reports; “toxicomania” refers to toxic consumption which could be of a psychoactive or another substance; and ‘drug addiction’ refers to an exclusive submission relationship with drugs.