APA Dictionary of Psychology

cross-dependence

Updated on 04/19/2018

the ability of one substance to prevent withdrawal symptoms from a different substance of the same class or with a similar effect. This is the pharmacological mechanism behind substitution pharmacotherapy: Cross-dependence allows the substitution of a less dangerous drug as treatment for substance dependence, as in the substitution of methadone for heroin.
the condition of becoming rapidly dependent on a substance that is related to one for which there is already dependence.
the condition of being simultaneously dependent on more than one substance. Also called cross-addiction. Compare cross-tolerance.

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