Substance-related disorder that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol.
It is suggested that the increase in acetylcholine release, relative to dopamine, is a neural component of the withdrawalstate that is aversive.
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These neuroadaptations produce changes in sensitivity to alcohol's effects following repeated exposure (i.e., sensitization and tolerance) and a withdrawalstate following discontinuation of alcohol use.