A lonely, depressed divorcée has been self-medicating with cocaine for the past year. How should a nurse describe this individual's situation?

The situation described reflects psychological dependency, which is characterized by an emotional or mental reliance on a substance to cope with feelings or situations. In this case, the lonely, depressed divorcée is using cocaine as a means of self-medication, suggesting she is relying on the substance to alleviate her emotional distress and cope with her situation. This reliance indicates an attachment to the psychological effects of cocaine, such as an escape from her loneliness and depression, which is a key feature of psychological dependency.

Physical dependency, on the other hand, refers to the body's adaptation to a substance, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not taken. Since the scenario emphasizes the emotional aspect of her usage rather than a physiological dependency, this aspect is not the correct focus. Substance dependency is a broader category that includes both psychological and physical aspects. While the individual may very well fit into this category, the specifics of her situation highlight the psychological component more strongly. Social dependency would relate to relying on social relationships for stability, which does not align with the self-medication context provided.