Alcohol and drug addiction increases, as the age of start drug use decreases day by day in Turkey as well as in the world. Likewise, other addictions technology and gambling addictions also cause psychological, sociological and economic losses to a person’s own life, families and society in general.

Addiction has a negative impact upon the body of the person and his/her mental and social life. Prevention of addictions, which are regarded as catastrophes for the society, is possible with a suitable public health approach.

Coexistence of solely three below mentioned situations is sufficient to be diagnosed as an addicted which is a psychiatric syndrome.

• Improving tolerance toward the drug that has been used.
• Showing indications of deprivation when there is a decrease or stop in substance abuse
• Wasted efforts done for controlling substance abuse or quitting substance
• Losing a lot of time for finding, using and quitting drugs
• The negative impact of drug abuse on social, professional and personal life
• Increasing the frequency and dose of drug use
• Continuing drug use despite emergence of the physical, mental problems and increase in them

The physical dependence is a desire for drugs which the body has been developed tolerance for. As for spiritual dependence is being into drugs in order to satisfy his/her needs based on emotions or characters.