What term describes a condition where an individual finds it difficult or impossible to control drug use?

The term that best describes a condition where an individual finds it difficult or impossible to control drug use is "dependence." In the context of substance use, dependence refers to a state where individuals feel compelled to use a substance to the extent that they cannot manage or control their use, often leading to significant impairment in various aspects of their life. This includes both physical and psychological components, wherein there may also be withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not consumed.

Intoxication describes the temporary state of being affected by a substance, which does not necessarily include the inability to control use. Cross-dependence refers to the phenomenon where dependence on one substance can lead to relief of withdrawal symptoms from another substance, which does not specifically address control over drug use. Tolerance involves a person's need to consume larger amounts of a substance to achieve the same effects over time, but again, it does not directly correlate to a lack of control in the use of the substance. Thus, dependence encapsulates the overall difficulty or inability to manage drug use effectively.