Author: James Anderson

Dependence vs Addiction: How to Tell the Difference

Physical dependence is not the same as addiction; instead, it accompanies addiction. However, a drug addiction treatment program can help patients minimize and successfully break free of this dependence. This stage involves using the substance more often, displaying an increased ability to handle it, and starting to develop a tolerance to it. The person may use the substance to try and fix negative feelings. This physiological process will happen to everyone who is repeatedly exposed to prescription medication, illicit drugs, or alcohol.

Additionally, people may build up a tolerance to the substance, meaning that they require more of the drug to feel its effects. By addressing these emotional wounds and learning healthier coping mechanisms, individuals can embark on a path of healing and develop the skills necessary for sustained recovery. Physical addiction can take hold even in cases where drug or alcohol abuse is absent.

Health Conditions

Although these are effective for pain relief, they have a high risk of causing physical dependence if a person uses them for longer than prescribed. People may be able to divide the symptoms of physical dependence into either acute withdrawal syndrome or post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This can often occur when the person requires long-term pain medications for chronic pain. These individuals may become dependent on pain medications to function, but they may not have an addiction to pain medication.

The Differences of Dependence vs. Addiction

But over time, you may need more drinks, more often, for the same effect. Through evidence-based therapies, medication management, and personalized support, individuals can traverse the path of healing with enhanced resilience and improved mental well-being. In severe cases of physical dependence, more serious side effects such as seizures or delirium can occur.

  1. SUD is a complex condition wherein a person uncontrollably uses a substance despite this having harmful consequences.
  2. Acute withdrawal syndrome usually lasts for a relatively short period of time, while PAWS is a low level continuation of some symptoms that can last for years or even indefinitely.
  3. The journey of recovery can be difficult but fulfilling, and professional support can greatly increase the chances of achieving lasting sobriety.
  4. This leads to a cycle of addiction and dependence that contributes to substance use disorder.
  5. When necessary, you might also receive help in the form of Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) 13.
  6. In theory, anyone can become physically or psychologically dependent on a substance without ever expressing addictive behaviours.

Illicit drugs

If a person with physical dependence were to stop using the substance suddenly, they would experience acute, sometimes severe, withdrawal symptoms. Psychologically, preexisting mental health conditions like anxiety or past traumas can make people more susceptible to addiction. The attempt to fill an emotional void or numb the pain can lead to a reliance on substances or behaviors. Physical dependence is a medical condition that is separate from addiction. When abruptly stopping a substance, a person may experience adverse symptoms of withdrawal, such as confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.

Signs That Tolerance or Dependence Have Crossed Over to Addiction

The person prioritizes their use of the substance over everything else, including their relationships, school, work, family, and other interests. They lose all motivation to do anything else and display significant behavior changes. They may worry about losing their source of the substance, engage in risky or secretive behaviors to obtain more of it or even start selling it themselves, to support their habit. Dependence occurs when the person’s body adapts to the substance and becomes physically dependent on it, causing them to need more and more of it to achieve the same effect. Hallucinogens, which cause people to hear or see things that don’t exist. Hallucinogens include drugs such as LSD, psilocybin (commonly known as mushrooms), mescaline, and phencyclidine (known as PCP or angel dust).

Treatment Approaches for Substance Use Disorder

Unlike tolerance, which focuses on how much of the substance you need to feel its effect, physical dependence happens when your body starts to rely on the drug. If you were to suddenly stop using it, you would likely experience some harsh symptoms. Substance dependence and addiction are complex conditions; however, they are treatable. If you or a loved one have become substance dependent, it’s important to seek help and treatment as soon as possible.

Whether it’s in an online forum or a doctor’s office, you’ll likely hear the word “dependence” used to indicate a cause for concern. Sometimes, a well-timed intervention can be the catalyst that starts recovery. The process may be challenging, but it’s one filled with possibilities. With the right support, people can overcome dependence and addiction and reclaim their lives.

However, with the release of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), the APA consolidated both terms with substance use disorder (SUD). Although this can refer to dependence on medications that control health conditions, it can also be a symptom of addiction, which is different from physical dependence. However, the APA explains that as the brain and body adapt to the effects of the substance, the person needs to consume more and more of it to achieve the same effect. This leads to a cycle of addiction and dependence that contributes to substance use disorder. This more intensive form of treatment involves slowly tapering substance use in a controlled, medical environment.

Managing Withdrawal at Home

If after reading this article you’ve begun to recognise symptoms in yourself or someone close to you, you can reach out to the OK Rehab team. In cases of mild to moderate physical dependence, clinicians may recommend detoxing in an outpatient setting under varying levels of guidance. These physical red flags are not the only sign of a growing dependency, however. Frequent substance use can mean that there’s less time for being productive at work, looking after the home, or spending quality time with loved ones. In the case of alcohol dependence, this could be the inability to feel drunk, or with pain medication, a decrease in the level of relief provided. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

Some individuals will attempt to stop using a drug before reintroducing it in an attempt to bring back its efficacy. Faced with this disturbance, the brain will adapt its chemical processes to try and maintain normal function in the presence of a said drug. Educate yourselves about addiction, offer unwavering support, and encourage your loved ones to seek professional help.

In severe cases of intoxication or overdose, a person may require emergency care. What these strategies are depends on the substance or behavior a person wants to stop. Dependence can happen with many drugs, even when a person takes them as per their doctor’s instructions. Unlike addiction, dependence does not necessarily involve difficulty controlling behavior. According to a 2021 research article, healthcare professionals often misunderstand them, which can lead to misdiagnosis.