Brendon has been using Xanax for a period of over six months. Alex, his friend, asks him to stop using the drug as it adversely affects the body. Brendon listens to Alex and discontinues taking the drug. However, upon withdrawal, he experiences immense physical pain accompanied by increased craving for the drug. This is most likely due to .

physical dependence

Explanation:

Physical dependence -

It refers to the physical condition , which occur due to sudden reduction of the intake of any drug , is referred to as the physical dependence .

As a particular drug is supposed to relieve pain or reduce stress and depression , the body gets molded in way that the particular drug would only heal the problem , and as the person stop the intake , the body responds in a very negative manner , which can be very painful and stressful .

Hence , from the given scenario of the question ,

The correct answer is physical dependence .