What term describes the strong desire for a specific substance in addiction?

The term that accurately describes the strong desire for a specific substance in addiction is craving. Cravings are intense urges that can lead individuals to seek out and use the substance despite potential negative consequences. This phenomenon is a critical aspect of substance use disorders, as cravings can often lead to relapse even after significant periods of abstinence.

Craving encompasses both a psychological and physiological desire for a substance, often triggered by environmental cues or reminders of previous substance use. It is distinct in that it reflects an individual's internal experience of desire, rather than external conditions or states.

The other options do not encapsulate the concept of a strong desire in the context of addiction. Dependency refers to the physical or psychological reliance on a substance, withdrawal describes the symptoms experienced when an individual reduces or stops using a substance they are dependent on, and intoxication is the state of being under the influence of a substance. Each of these terms highlights different aspects of substance use and addiction but does not specifically denote the intense urge associated with craving.