Even if you only take drugs as prescribed, it’s important to monitor your substance use. If that substance dependence has a negative impact on your life, you could be at risk of addiction. He says it relaxes him, and he enjoys the way it makes him feel. Mark eventually develops a physical dependence on alcohol, as it’s an addictive substance. He decides to cut out this bad habit, but he soon starts drinking again. Now he drinks ten or fifteen beers every night, and he sometimes blacks out.
There are even perceived differences between addiction versus the abuse of a substance. A person who is chemically dependent on a drug might show different physiological changes around chronic usage, tolerance levels, and even withdrawal symptoms. When someone is addicted to a substance, it’s not uncommon for their loved ones to refer to them as having an “addiction” to certain behaviors or describe them as someone that is “dependent” on alcohol or drugs. People tend to use the words addiction vs dependence “addiction” and “dependent” interchangeably to describe a person’s behavior when engaged in a certain activity, as well as the results of the behavior when it leads to a physical illness. However, there are clear differences between the two terms, several of which deal with the chemical effects that happen to addicted persons. However, these recent changes mean that “dependence” now includes both physical and physiological dependence (in terms of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms).
Examples of addiction
In these cases, integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders is required, no matter the severity of the dependence and/or addiction. When addiction is related to drugs or alcohol, the condition is also called a substance use disorder. “Drugs,” in this case, means any substance that affects the body. It could include prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, street drugs, alcohol, even nicotine.
For example, alcohol dependence can lead to liver problems,11 heart disease, and even cancer. Opioids increase your risk for cardiac and respiratory problems.12 And illicit drug use has a high risk of overdose13 and death. If you or a loved one are struggling with https://ecosoberhouse.com/ mental health or substance abuse, we can help. The differences between substance addiction and substance dependence are slight, as many of their signs and symptoms intersect. Addiction and dependence are two separate conditions relating to substance abuse.
If You Have an Addiction
Addiction or substance use disorder occurs when individuals are largely unable to function without the drug. People who are addicted develop a physical and psychological reliance on a substance that leads them to go to extreme lengths to continue taking it. To confuse matters further, “substance dependence” was then changed to “substance use disorder” in the new DSM-5. The intention was to simplify the phrasing by grouping substance abuse and substance dependence into one category. This change also provided clarity, since previously, the definition of dependence was narrower and only referred to physiological dependence.
- A person who is chemically dependent on a drug might show different physiological changes around chronic usage, tolerance levels, and even withdrawal symptoms.
- While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct concepts with their own characteristics.
- In this case, medical support may be required to help wean the individual off the drug.
- And anyone can become addicted, from people experiencing homelessness to business executives.
