What is the Difference Between Dependence and Addiction?

For example, if a person is arrested for using drugs and leaves jail to pick up more, they’ve likely developed an addiction. Addiction causes individuals to act erratic or irrational when they cannot get more of their drug of choice. Genetics plays a significant role in determining an Sober living house individual’s vulnerability to addiction and dependence. Certain genetic variations can increase the likelihood of developing these conditions. Studies have shown that individuals with a family history of addiction or dependence are at a higher risk of experiencing these issues themselves.

Psychological dependence also makes someone rely on a substance to achieve mental and emotional wellbeing, rather than achieving physical relief from withdrawal symptoms. Distinguishing between alcohol or drug dependence and addiction is essential for informed discussions about substance use and prescribed medication alike. Recognizing the difference between them can help you to speak with your providers, and also help you reach out if you have concerns.

Understanding the Difference: Addiction vs. Dependence

When someone uses the term “dependence,” they’re often referring to someone becoming physically dependent on a drug. This means they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms if they decrease the dose or halt use altogether, or they’re unable to experience the effects of the drug at the dose they’ve become used to, known as tolerance. With that said, it’s important to note that you can be dependent on a drug without being addicted. Underlying mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders, can increase an individual’s vulnerability to these conditions. Substance use may be used as a way to self-medicate or alleviate distressing symptoms. At the same time, their body becomes dependent on alcohol, and they experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop.

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Now, here’s where it gets tricky – addiction and dependence often overlap, like two circles in a Venn diagram. It’s like a complicated dance routine where the partners sometimes move in sync and other times step on each other’s toes. Incorporating trauma-informed care is also crucial, as many individuals with BPD have histories of emotional neglect and abuse.

Health Conditions

It occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a substance’s presence, necessitating higher doses for the same effects. Tolerance develops due to various physiological mechanisms, including changes in receptor sensitivity and neurotransmitter levels in the brain. It’s a hallmark of physical dependence and is commonly observed in addiction scenarios. Dependence without addiction is possible and is most often seen in people using certain medications like painkillers or antidepressants under a doctor’s supervision.

During rehabilitation, mental health professionals work with the client closely to identify the sources of their substance dependency and develop strategies for overcoming it. Individuals can experience relief from their substance dependence with the help from mental health professionals. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available that can heal each aspect of someone’s substance dependency. Physical withdrawal symptoms can reinforce psychological cravings, while psychological withdrawal symptoms can drive physical dependence by encouraging substance use. The frequency and severity of these symptoms can vary depending on an individual’s brain chemistry, mental health issues, and environment.

• Some jurisdictions are moving towards treating addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one, but progress is slow and uneven.
• They deliver a double punch — they don’t just increase the feel-good dopamine in the brain, but there’s also a need to take them consistently to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms.
• Often psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression are co-occurring with substance use disorders.

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Tolerance occurs when a person needs increasingly larger amounts of a substance to achieve the same effect over time. For instance, someone who once felt intoxicated after a few beers might now require a 12-pack to achieve similar effects. Keep reading to dive into the nuances of addiction vs. tolerance vs dependence for clarity and insights for effective intervention and support.

The prevalence of these addictions highlights the importance of targeted therapeutic strategies during treatment for co-occurring disorders. Men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs,13 and illicit drug use is more likely to result in emergency department visits or overdose deaths for men than for women. “Illicit” refers to use of illegal drugs, including marijuana (according to federal law) and misuse of prescription drugs. The brain’s reward system is central to addiction because certain substances or behaviors release dopamine, which makes the behavior feel good and harder to stop. Stress, social situations, and feelings of low self-worth are common triggers that can push people into addictive behaviors. No matter where someone falls on the spectrum of substance use challenges, recovery is possible with appropriate intervention.

Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

Physical dependence usually requires a detoxification process to safely manage withdrawal symptoms, helping the body adjust to functioning without the substance. Detox is often the first step in treatment, focusing on the physical aspects of dependence and ensuring a person is medically stable before moving on to the next phase of recovery. Psychiatrists who specialize in addiction use evidence-based treatments and therapy to help you overcome the mental aspects of substance use disorders.

Our compassionate, friendly staff is available 24-hours a day to take your call and help you begin your recovery journey. Physical dependence is defined by the body’s need for the substance to function normally, and without it, a person may have discomfort physically and mentally. We’ll explore the distinctions between these two terms to clarify the concept of dependence vs. addiction and explain why the difference matters in recovery. Those changes make it hard to stop using a substance even when the negative impact on health, relationships and well-being is recognized.