What occurs when a person stops using a substance after developing physical dependence?

When a person stops using a substance after developing physical dependence, they experience withdrawal symptoms. This happens because the body has adapted to the presence of the substance, and when it is suddenly removed, the body reacts negatively to the absence of the substance. These withdrawal symptoms can manifest in various ways, including physical and psychological symptoms, depending on the substance involved.

Physical dependence means that the body has become accustomed to the substance's effects, leading to changes in how the body functions. When the substance is no longer available, it can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms—sometimes severe—that can include nausea, anxiety, sweating, shaking, and in some cases, life-threatening conditions.

The other options relate to different aspects of substance use. Tolerance refers to the body's need for increasingly larger doses of a substance to achieve the same effect, kind of the opposite of withdrawal. Euphoria is the intense feeling of pleasure or happiness often experienced when using a substance, and loss of control pertains to the inability to limit or cease substance use despite negative consequences. While these concepts are important in the context of substance use and dependence, they do not specifically describe the immediate consequences of stopping use after developing physical dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms.