Differences Between Substance Abuse, Dependence, & Addiction

Instead, it uses the term “substance use disorder” with varying levels of severity. It’s like a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe, based on the number of criteria met. We provide our readers with factual, evidence-based content concerning the causes and nature of addiction, as well as available treatment options. However, this informative content is intended for educational purposes only. It is by no means a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. With regard to any addiction-related health concerns, you should always seek the guidance of a qualified, registered physician who is licensed to practice medicine in your particular jurisdiction.

Psychiatry and Talk Therapy

There is also medication available to help with treating dependency on substances such as alcohol. This medication works to reduce the effects of withdrawal which otherwise can be extremely dangerous. This reward for using the substance begins to lead the person to behave in ways that prioritise the addiction above everything else. This is what begins the patterns of behaviour that start to negatively affect relationships, jobs, and health.

Recognizing Symptoms

There’s a lot of overlap between the two — but not everyone who is chemically dependent has an addiction, and not everyone with addiction is chemically dependent. Educate yourselves about addiction, offer unwavering support, and encourage your loved ones to seek professional help. During recovery, people are encouraged to rediscover old passions or explore new hobbies to fill the void left by substance use and offer a sense of purpose. We also recommend building positive relationships to form a strong foundation for support. By doing these, we can empower people to seek help without fear, support their journey towards recovery, and ultimately build healthier, more resilient communities.

• Many medications, particularly those for pain management or anxiety, can lead to physical dependence with long-term use.
• Educate yourselves about addiction, offer unwavering support, and encourage your loved ones to seek professional help.
• For example, individuals struggling to stop their medications due to withdrawal symptoms may be wrongly accused of addiction or misuse.

Addiction vs. Dependence: Understanding the Difference

It allows a clinician to diagnose a severe SUD in a person who shows no physical dependence (someone with a gambling disorder or cocaine use disorder). More importantly, it acknowledges that a person can exhibit tolerance and withdrawal without having a SUD. A clear example is a patient Substance abuse prescribed opioid painkillers for several months to manage severe chronic pain following major surgery or for cancer treatment.

Whatever your goals, it’s the struggle to get there that’s most rewarding. It’s almost as if life itself is inviting us to embrace difficulty—not as punishment but as a design feature. Finally, there’s the myth that if you relapse after beating your addiction, you have failed. Just like with other diseases, sometimes you need multiple treatments or repeat treatments. In just 2 minutes, you can speak with an admissions specialist, verify your insurance, and explore treatment options that work for you. If you’re looking for treatment, please browse the site to reach out to treatment centers directly.

Psychological addiction, on the other hand, focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of reliance on a substance. It’s characterized by intense cravings and a preoccupation with obtaining and using the substance, often driven by pleasurable sensations or relief it provides. Psychological addiction can lead to obsessive thinking about the substance and difficulty managing life without it.

The Effects of Nitrous Oxide Abuse

This then results in the body requiring the substance in order to function normally. Encourage them to explore professional support, like therapy or counseling, in a caring and non-pressuring way. Offer to help them find options or attend appointments, but be patient if they aren’t ready yet. So, while dependence can be a part of addiction, it doesn’t necessarily mean someone is addicted. Another approach is motivational interviewing (MI), which focuses on enhancing motivation and commitment to change. MI helps individuals explore their ambivalence towards substance use and promotes self-motivation to pursue a substance-free lifestyle.

Even when a person is aware of the harm caused by their behavior, they continue using. Addiction may involve both physical dependence and psychological cravings, leading to a cycle that is difficult to break. Psychiatrists who specialize in addiction use evidence-based treatments and therapy to help you overcome the mental aspects of substance use disorders. Withdrawal from both of these substances can be dangerous if not monitored correctly. This is why many treatment plans for certain kinds of substances involve tapering or medical interventions to make the physical symptoms of withdrawal more manageable.

Addiction vs Dependence

Perhaps you’ve had experience with addiction yourself or know someone who has. However, for something so widespread, its severity seems to go shockingly under the radar in our own communities, groups, and sometimes even families. Building a strong and trusting physician-patient relationship is essential in addiction treatment; however, various factors can impede this critical bond. Patients may withhold accurate information due to feelings of distress, distrust, or concerns about their security and autonomy. Addressing patient anxiety and establishing a safe space for open communication are crucial steps in fostering a supportive therapeutic alliance. Triggers are internal or external cues that prompt cravings and may lead to substance use.

A person who is chemically addiction vs dependence dependent on a drug might show different physiological changes around chronic usage, tolerance levels, and even withdrawal symptoms. Regular alcohol consumption can lead to physical and psychological dependence over time, along with potentially deadly withdrawal symptoms. As such, alcohol addiction can result from prolonged and ongoing use, and may require treatment intervention to begin the recovery process. Tolerance can be a critical factor in both dependence and the development of substance use disorder. It occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a substance’s presence, necessitating higher doses for the same effects.