Addiction vs Dependence: Differences In Drug Abuse Terms

Addiction vs Dependence: Differences In Drug Abuse Terms

These include agitation, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Let what you’ve learned about the physiological effects of addiction be a motivating reason to take that step now. You don’t need to do all the work alone, but you can seize the opportunity to put yourself or your loved one in the best possible environment to repair the body, heal the mind, and free physiological dependence on alcohol the spirit from the bonds of drug dependence. Physical dependence is characterized by the body relying on an external (exogenous) source of a chemical substance to prevent withdrawal. Physical dependence is predictable, efficiently managed with medication, and can sometimes be managed by a tapering off of the substance or through participation in a medical detox program.

The minds behind the DSM find the term carries too much negative connotation and is ambiguous. The World Health Organization also wanted to replace the medical designation of “addiction” with the word “dependence” back in 1964 (which probably contributed to the confusion). Talking about substance use disorder can be tricky, and not just because it’s a sensitive topic. There are a lot of terms involved that, while related, mean different things.

“Allowed me to build a life for myself.”

Examples of withdrawal symptoms include hand tremors, gastrointestinal issues, depression, and anxiety. Your options now involve continuing to use, talking with your doctor to change your medication, or choosing an addiction treatment program. That is why it is important to get help from a medical professional when quitting.

• Some addiction therapists believe psychological dependence is tougher to quit and requires more extensive aftercare.
• Unlike tolerance, which focuses on how much of the substance you need to feel its effect, physical dependence happens when your body starts to rely on the drug.
• Symptoms might also fluctuate, improving for a period of time and intensifying when you’re under a lot of stress.
• Furthermore, the brain and body don’t feel “rewarded” until they receive the substance.
• Have a confidential, completely free conversation with a treatment provider about your financial options.

Treating physical dependence to drugs or alcohol begins with medical detox. This takes place under the care of physicians and nurses who make sure you are safe and comfortable during drug detox or alcohol detox. They will monitor your vital signs and comfort and https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-marriage-changes-after-sobriety/ prescribe research-backed medications to ease withdrawal symptoms. In the case of a medical emergency, they can intervene promptly. If you have a physical dependence, it’s critical that you undergo alcohol or drug detox under the care of medical professionals.

How Physiological Dependence Can Be Treated

Your brain and body don’t like not having caffeine in them, so they turn up the pain. Once you have your morning coffee, however, the headache subsides. The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers is a nonprofit professional society designed to offer support to organizations across the continuum of care. Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information. When you forfeit activities that were usually enjoyed before drug use, it is an implication of the social symptoms of an addict. These activities or events, that previously brought joy, are now looked sourly upon due to the substance not being available.

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 opioid crisis is so bad that the U.S. government declared a public health emergency.

What is Physical Dependence?

Physically and mentally, you’ll become healthier and stronger as you work through rehab. All of your body’s components must heal for to you achieve true, lasting health. Serenity House Detox & Recovery & Recovery Houston is a comfortable intimate treatment facility, offering the full continuum of care, and serving Houston, Dallas and Ft.

• Psychological dependence is the dependence on the drugs or the substance of choice.
• Find how a drug detox program can help you or your loved one.
• The hormonal stress response is mediated by a system known as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis.
• Further, the amount of work mice (Lopez et al. 2008) and rats (Brown et al. 1998) were willing to expend in order to receive alcohol reinforcement was significantly increased following repeated withdrawal experience.

CRF acts on the pituitary gland located directly below the hypothalamus, where it initiates the production of a molecule called proopiomelanocortin (POMC). This compound is processed further into smaller molecules, such as β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is carried via the blood stream to the adrenal glands (which are located atop the kidneys), where it induces the release of stress hormones (i.e., glucocorticoids) that then act on target cells and tissues throughout the body (including the brain). The main glucocorticoid in humans and other primates is cortisol; the main glucocorticoid in rodents is corticosterone. Addiction is also known as compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences.

Does Xanax Help with Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Are you or someone you love struggling with physiological dependence on drugs or alcohol? Addiction is a real and severe disease, but there is hope for recovery. For some folks dealing with both a physical and psychological dependence, the psychological side of things sometimes resolves on its own once the physical dependence is treated.

We create personalized plans for each individual who enters our facility to give them the tools for long-lasting recovery. A psychological dependence affects the mind negatively in terms of mood, feelings, and thoughts. They’re arguably more difficult to pin down and treat because of this.

For some, these first steps are the hardest parts of the recovery journey and require a full team of support while the brain and body heal. Without detox in a supervised environment, there are serious risks, including death. It all depends on how long a person has used a substance, how many they are using, and what they are detoxing from. Symptoms of physical dependency are not limited to the sufferer and may include those in the substance user’s life.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is another example of psychological withdrawal. It’s a condition that sometimes pops up after the symptoms of physical withdrawal have subsided. You can also experience both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological dependence only

Scientifically speaking, physiological dependence describes the adaptive changes the body makes in response to the continued use of an addictive substance. These adaptations to brain and body chemistry, hormone levels, and organ functions develop slowly and will take time to return to normal. Our center employs caring, professional medical staff with expertise in addiction who deliver these services in both inpatient and outpatient program formats.

To combat addiction, it would be helpful to have loved ones help you overcome and be a part of your recovery life. Obsession is when someone is infatuated with the substance they are using. In this situation, the only thing that matters is getting the substance and using the substance.

Addiction encompasses both a mental and physical reliance on a given substance. The difference between addiction and dependence can be difficult to understand. Some organizations have different definitions, use the words interchangeably or even abandon both terms altogether.

From a clinical standpoint, this is important because it underscores the value of these models in identifying and evaluating new treatment strategies that may be more effective in battling the problem of relapse. Substance use disorder (the medical term for drug addiction) involves psychological aspects and changes to the body’s processes. Your brain will respond differently to regular stimuli due to its altered state.