When you’re reading or listening to people talk about substance abuse, you often hear the terms addiction and dependence used interchangeably. In truth, they’re entirely different issues. Though they often go hand in hand, each is its own distinct concept with different factors and effects. At the same time, the approaches to treating each one can be very different. Understanding the distinctions between addiction and dependence is the key to effectively overcoming them.
Delving Deeper Into Dependence
First, let’s take a closer look at dependence. In general, dependence is defined as needing or relying on something. When it’s used in the context of substance abuse, it refers to the body’s reliance on the substance in question. Over time, the body comes to rely more and more on that substance and may eventually need larger amounts of it to feel its effects. In its absence, the body can have serious, and even potentially deadly, reactions, which is one of the reasons why turning to a Los Angeles drug detox facility to overcome dependence is so important.
Opioid painkillers are a prime example of this type of situation. Doctors prescribe opioids to alleviate severe or chronic pain. They do their job well, but the longer a person takes them, the more the body needs them to remain free of pain. Even if the original cause of their pain ultimately heals, their body still needs the opioids to maintain a sense of normalcy. If they suddenly stop taking the opioids, they may feel severe pain even though the original source of their pain is no longer present. Of course, the pain is likely to be accompanied by several other serious side-effects, such as nausea, sweating, shaking, fear, and anger.
In general, the body can grow accustomed to the presence of an outside substance. Over time, it begins to need that substance. When that happens, it may need to be weaned off of the substance to avoid dangerous repercussions. Keep in mind that opioids are only one possibility. Our bodies can become dependent on any number of substances from methamphetamines and alcohol to nicotine, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners.
Understanding Addiction
Now, let’s discuss addiction. It’s defined as compulsive substance use despite potentially harmful consequences. Whereas dependence is physical, addiction is psychological and behavioral. It’s a mentaland emotional drive to use a substance no matter what the eventual outcome will be. Addictive substances trigger the brain’s reward center. Though addiction can alter the way the brain works, it doesn’t necessarily involve the brain and body physically needing a substance to function correctly.
Experts point out that one of the main factors in addiction is a loss of control. People turn to the substance they’re addicted to no matter how it will affect their health, relationships, job, or other aspects of their lives. Addiction is often the result of stress, anxiety, depression, emotional trauma, PTSD, and other issues. From mental and emotional perspectives, people feel that they need specific substances to function, but their bodies aren’t necessarily physically dependent on them.
Distinguishing Between Addiction and Dependence
Though the terms dependence and addiction are often used interchangeably, they’re not the same. In short, addiction is a mental and emotional need for something whereas dependence is a more physical need. That being said, the two are certainly closely related. Dependence can lead to addiction, and addiction can lead to dependence. Detox programs can help people begin to break the cycle of dependence safely. From there, the journey to recovery from dependence, addiction, or both may require a variety of approaches.
