Final answer:
Physical dependence is the physiological need for a drug that results in withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. It involves changes in normal bodily functions and can be accompanied by tolerance, which is the need to consume more of the drug to obtain the same effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physical dependence is the physiological need for a drug that causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as pain and craving when the drug is discontinued. The correct answer to the fill-in-the-blank question is d. physical dependence. Physical dependence results from repeated drug use, leading to changes in the normal functioning of the body. When the drug is no longer present, the body experiences a range of withdrawal symptoms, which can be both physical, like tremors or pain, and psychological, such as intense cravings.
This is different from psychological dependence, where the need for a drug is based on emotional or mental desires. Additionally, tolerance refers to the need to increase the dosage of a drug to achieve the same effects as previously gained at lower doses, which can further exacerbate dependence issues and increase the risk of overdose and death.