New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 5 - DENTISTRY (DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, ETC.)
Part 30 - DENTAL HYGIENISTS, DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS, LICENSE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
Section 16.5.30.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. "Addiction" means a neurobehavioral syndrome with genetic and environmental influences that result in psychological dependence on the use of substances for their psychic effects. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use; compulsive use; continued use despite harm; and craving.

B. "Chronic pain" means a pain state which is persistent and in which the cause of the pain cannot be removed or otherwise treated.

C. "Direct reference" means a phone number or website where names and contact information of the dental hygienists(s) can be referenced.

D. "Drug abuser" means a person who takes a drug or drugs for other than legitimate medical purposes.

E. "Pain" means an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with inflammation or with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such inflammation or and damage.

F. "Patient abandonment" means withdrawing a patient from treatment without giving reasonable notice or providing a competent replacement provider.

G. "Physical dependence" means a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug-specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cassation, rapid dos reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, administration of an antagonist, or a combination of these.

H. "Tolerance" means a state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution of one or more of the drug's effects over time.