EAP (employee assistance program): a company-provided counseling service to help with substance abuse and any other personal problem. Usually these services are contracted to an external professional treatment group.

eating disorder: includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and compulsive overeating.

ecstasy (MDMA, X): a synthetic analog of the methamphetamine molecule that causes some psychedelic effects; see MDMA.

edema: accumulation of excess water and other fluids in the tissues of the body.

EEG (electroencephalography): a technique that detects and measures patterns of electrical activity emanating from the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp.

effective dose: the dose of a drug that causes a desired effect 50% of the time. Twenty-five percent of the people tested require a higher dosage for the desired effect and 25% require a lower dosage.

EIA (enzyme immunoassay): in drug testing, the use of antibodies to seek out specific drugs.

eight ball: one-eighth of an ounce of any drug, usually heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine.

electroconvulsive therapy (shock therapy or ECT): the use of electric shocks to the brain approximately three times a week for 2Ð6 weeks to treat depression; developed in Italy in 1938.

elimination: the physiologic excretion of drugs and other substances from the body.

embalming fluid (formaldehyde): a chemical used to preserve dead bodies. It has been used as an inhalant and is also added to marijuana then smoked_known as "clickers" or "clickems" abuse. This material has also been used to help manufacture other illicit drugs like PCP.

embolism: blockage in a blood vessel caused by blood clots, additives in drugs, and other foreign matter, such as cotton, associated with intravenous drug use.

embryogenesis: the process of embryo formation in the womb.

EMIT (enzyme multiplied immunoassay techniques): a sensitive urine drug test rapidly and easily performed. Specific antigens are created for drugs that then react to them if they are present in the urine or blood sample.

emphysema: a lung disease caused by smoking or by environmental pollutants, like asbestos, that gradually destroy the bronchioles of the lungs and their ability to take in air.

employee assistance program: see EAP.

EMT (emergency medical technician): a licensed medical technician who usually goes out on ambulance calls.

enabling: actions by anyone, especially relatives and friends, that allow addicts or abusers to continue their addictive behavior. It includes denial, codependence, paying off debts, lying to protect them, or providing money.

endocarditis: bacterial infection of heart valves that can be fatal; often induced by infected needles during IV drug use.

endogenous craving: craving for a drug caused by neurochemical changes in the brain such as depletion of dopamine resulting from cocaine abuse. The other craving is caused by environmental triggers (cue craving).

endogenous opioids: opioids that originate or are produced within the body including endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins; antonym for exogenous opioids, e.g., heroin and opium.

endorphins: neurotransmitters that resemble opioids. They naturally suppress pain and induce euphoria. Heroin, morphine and other opioids mimic the effects of endorphins.

enkephalin: naturally occurring opioid peptides that are part of the endorphins and have shorter or less amino acids in their molecular structure.

enteric division: the third part of the autonomic nervous system that controls smooth muscles in the gut.

environment: any external influence on a person, including relationships, school, work, living location, nutrition, availability of drugs, advertising, and kinds of friends; one of the three main factors most influential in forming a susceptibility to becoming an addict. The other two are heredity and the use of the drugs or the acting out of a compulsive behavior.

enzyme: a natural chemical that causes a chemical change in other substances (catalyst) without changing itself. Enzymes are often involved in the metabolism of drugs.

ephedra (ma huang): the natural source of the stimulant ephedrine.

ephedrine: an alkaloid stimulant extracted from the ephedra bush. It can also be synthesized in labs. It forces the release of norepinephrine, dopamine, and epinephrine in the brain's nerve cells. It can be used to manufacture methamphetamines and methcathinone. It is used as a bronchodilator in the lungs and a vasoconstrictor in the nose, so it is found in many OTC drugs, e.g., Sudafed¨.

ephedrone: another name for the stimulant methcathinone.

epinephrine: the body's own natural stimulant neurotransmitter (adrenaline); a catecholamine.

EPO (erythropoietin): a synthetic hormone that stimulates the production of oxygen-laden red blood cells; has potentially fatal side effects.

ergogenic drug: any drug that increases performance and strength in athletics or bodybuilding.

ergot: a toxic fungus found on rye, wheat, and other grasses that contains lysergic acid. It is used in the synthesis of LSD.

ergotism: poisoning by ergot often characterized by gangrene, numbness, and burning sensations.

Erythroxylum coca: the botanical name for the coca bush, the source of cocaine. It is grown mainly in South America but some is grown in Indonesia. Other less prevalent plants include Erythroxylum ipadu, Erythroxylum novotraterse, and Erythroxylum truxillense.

estrogen: a hormone responsible for most feminine characteristics in women. Found in both men and women but in greater concentration in women, e.g., estradiol, formed by the ovary, placenta, testes, and possibly adrenal cortex; can be synthesized. Its production is often affected by drugs.

ethanol (ethyl alcohol, C2H6O): the main psychoactive ingredient in beer, wine, and distilled liquors; usually made from fermented grains, fruits, or carbohydrate based vegetables, such as potatoes and rice.

ether: a volatile liquid, it was the first anesthetic. It was discovered in 1730 and called "anodyne. It was used as a medicine, a drink, and an inhalant; often used for intoxication because it was thought to be less harmful than alcohol.

ethyl alcohol: see ethanol.

etiology: the study of the causes of a disease including addiction.

euphoria: a feeling of well-being, extreme satiation, and satisfaction caused by many psychoactive drugs and certain behaviors, such as gambling and sex.

euphoriant: a substance that causes euphoria, e.g., cocaine, amphetamine, and heroin.

euthymia: a temporary elation; mental peace; less intense than euphoria.

evolutionary perspective: a theory that looks at physiological changes in the brain as survival adaptations.

excise taxes: taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

excretion: the elimination of water and waste products, including drugs and their metabolites, due to metabolism through urination, sweating, exhalation, defecation, and lactation.

exogenous: produced or originating outside the body, e.g. exogenous opioids such as heroin and morphine.

experimentation: the first stage of drug use where the person is curious but uses the drug only sporadically and there are no negative consequences.