Addiction vs Dependence Comparing Definitions & Symptoms

Over time, addicts start to lose not only their jobs, homes, and money, but also friendships, family relationships, and contact with the normal world. Addicts have a desperate view of the world, in which the only priority is addiction vs dependence securing the next high. But the ICD has yet to catch up and since American billing systems and other records often rely on ICD, this conflation continues to cause problems both in the United States and rest of the world.

If so, it’s important for you to treat it with the seriousness it requires and get help before it’s too late. The only way to overcome this is by accepting you have a problem and reaching out for help. Whether you’re in the early stages or have a full-blown disorder, the earlier you get help, the greater your odds of overcoming this successfully. The longer you let this fester, it’ll only hurt you worse in the long term. The recent death of pop star Prince from an opioid overdose was one of the 25,000 fatal opioid overdoses in the US every year.

Addiction vs. dependence

Then, as your body heals, lowering your dosage could make you feel anxious. Additional training in assessment and diagnosis for physician trainees at the medical school level is also needed. Most medical schools only devote a few hours over four years https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-avoid-drinking-again-after-sobriety/ to teaching addiction medicine, a mere fraction of the time devoted to other chronic diseases encountered in general practice [8]. As a result, many physicians are ill-equipped to differentiate addiction from dependence due to a lack of expertise.

People used to believe that addiction only happened in certain areas, like in inner cities, or among specific groups of people, like those who were down and  out. But addictions can happen anywhere, from college campuses to rural and suburban towns. And anyone can become addicted, from people experiencing homelessness to business executives. Addictions can start slowly as people experiment with different types of drugs. Or they can come on quickly, like what is now happening in the opioid crisis.

The Difference between Dependence and Addiction

For example, a person with a caffeine dependence who stops drinking coffee may have withdrawal symptoms for a few days but then feel better. Many people who use the term “dependence” are referring to physical dependence. I suppose that some people would have an addiction problem if they were to take some of the meds I take. I’ve never had a problem with addiction, to drugs or alcohol or nicotine or a behavioral addiction. Therapy can be in the form of counseling, behavioral therapy, self-help groups, group therapy, mindfulness, or a combination of modalities. Education is learning how to overcome and cope with the effects of addiction, such as compulsive cravings, and how to establish a healthier lifestyle.

• Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce a person’s risk.
• In the substance abuse world, defining addiction is fairly clear.
• The terms “addiction” and “dependence” can seem similar, but they are different.
• Since consistency is lacking, it’s important to establish some ground rules.
• In these cases, integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders is required, no matter the severity of the dependence and/or addiction.
• Tolerance is when the body’s response to a substance diminishes over time.
• Physical dependence is a natural expected physiological response to drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants and corticosteroids.