Addiction vs Dependence: Understanding the Key Differences

Please note that only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis of co-dependency; not everyone experiencing these symptoms suffers from co-dependency. Full-spectrum products can contain THC (within legal limits depending on the market). For some people, repeated THC exposure is the bigger issue — especially if drug testing, driving, or personal sensitivity matters. Most worries about CBD are actually worries about dependence or tolerance — not true addiction.

How Do Partial Hospitalization Programs For Addiction Treatment Work?

One of the main medical texts that are used by mental health professionals to diagnose addiction is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM), which is currently in its fifth edition. Dependence and abuse are defined in a way that measures the time and severity of substance use. As it worsens and becomes more frequent, the odds of developing a substance use disorder increase dramatically. Could someone https://cloudrave-linc.com/alcohol-metabolism-national-institute-on-alcohol/ who is dependent on alcohol or drugs be diagnosed as having an addiction?

What is dependence? Physical dependence and withdrawal

There are also many 12-step family groups, like Al-Anon, to help them deal with the effects of dependence or addiction vs dependence addiction. After taking the drug for a while, it may not get rid of your symptoms like it did when you first started taking it. In this case, you must increase the dose to feel the same physiological effects. In time, as both heal from their injuries, their bodies have become dependent on the medication.

Addiction vs. Dependence: Understanding the Key Differences

However, a recent study 1 raises significant concerns about the accuracy of these diagnostic data. Yes, repeated misuse of prescription opioids can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD), a medical illness which ranges from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. An SUD develops when continued misuse of the drug changes the brain and causes health problems and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.

Common Misconceptions About Addiction and Dependence

This is why recent evidence-based literature clearly defines the difference between addiction and physical dependence in drug use. By addressing both the physical dependence and the psychological aspects of substance use, you can develop a comprehensive strategy for long-term recovery. 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. Because dependence often refers to the physical effects of substance use, dependence is characterized by symptoms of withdrawal once an individual no longer consumes the substance.

How to use CBD responsibly (minimise risk)

Getting a headache after skipping your morning coffee doesn’t mean you’re addicted to caffeine. Interestingly, you can also be addicted to a drug without being physically dependent on it. Cocaine addiction causes no major withdrawal symptoms, but still prompts compulsive behaviors and neurological changes—similar to gambling or internet addictions. With addiction, there are changes occurring in the reward pathway of your brain that cause compulsive drug-seeking behavior.

• When it comes to substance use, the line between dependence and addiction can get blurrier than a photograph taken on a rollercoaster.
• However, they may still experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it.
• Laws and policies often struggle to keep up with our evolving understanding of addiction disorders.
• This may lead to withdrawal symptoms if use is reduced or stopped, such as issues with the central nervous system.

One person follows their provider’s guidance to safely stop the medication, and soon, they no longer need it. Addiction causes cravings, compulsive behavior, what is alcoholism and changes in the brain. According to a 2021 research article, healthcare professionals often misunderstand them, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

• Distinguishing between alcohol or drug dependence and addiction is essential for informed discussions about substance use and prescribed medication alike.
• Most cases are related to marijuana and prescription painkillers.1 The good news is that addiction is highly treatable.
• To gain a deeper understanding of addiction, it is essential to explore its psychological aspects and the behavioral patterns that often accompany it.
• One of the biggest differences between addiction and dependence is that addiction is a disease, and tolerance is a condition.

On the other hand, cocaine, while not typically causing severe physical dependence, is highly addictive due to its intense psychological effects. Addiction can impact every aspect of your life, starting with your mental health.10 Substances change your brain, and might contribute to co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression. These symptoms, along with other aspects of addiction, can interfere with your relationships. If you prioritize drug use over your colleagues or loved ones, you might face serious consequences.

Compulsive Drug-Seeking Behavior

Many have tried to stop on their own, only to feel overwhelmed by symptoms and return to use just to function. Because fentanyl is so potent, the gap between “feeling something” and “breathing slowing dangerously” can be small. Tolerance can rise quickly, and many people find that what worked a week ago stops working now. That creates a higher-risk cycle of chasing relief while the margin of safety narrows.