Addiction vs dependence: Definitions and differences

A major feature of addiction is the loss of control when it comes to abstaining from the substance. Scientists have learned a great deal about the biochemical, cellular, and molecular bases of addiction; it is clear that addiction is a disease of the brain. When a person is addicted to a substance, the use of that substance targets certain cells in the brain which triggers a feeling of reward or satisfaction. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center.

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Substance use disorder is preventable if we build systems of care that help us intervene at earlier stages of use. Schools and communities need to work collaboratively together to actively find and correct the conditions that lead to substance use disorder, in order to prevent it or mitigate its effects. Cultural, social, religious, historical, and legal factors can also play a role in determining what forms of substance use are acceptable. For example, public laws determine which substances are legal or illegal, and how much of a substance can be legally consumed. Additionally, some cultures discourage the use of certain substances and permit others. Substance use is often a precursor to developing substance use disorder.

Why the Term “Substance Abuse” Is No Longer Used

If you are struggling with your alcohol or drug use, it can be helpful to explore these three definitions to determine whether there might be a problem. In severe cases of intoxication or overdose, a person may require emergency care. What these strategies are depends on the substance or behavior a person wants to stop. Addiction causes cravings, compulsive behavior, and changes in the brain. Addiction encompasses both a mental and physical reliance on a given substance.

Substance Dependence Defined

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• If you are struggling with your alcohol or drug use, it can be helpful to explore these three definitions to determine whether there might be a problem.
• Dependence is a common and natural outcome of using certain drugs over time, but it is important to distinguish it from addiction.

Dependence is characterized by the symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. While it is possible to have a physical dependence without being addicted, addiction is usually right around the corner. Drug dependence on a substance develops when the brain’s neurons adapt to repeated drug exposure and only function normally in the presence of the drug.

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• For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Short-term inpatient rehab is ideal for individuals who need detoxing and therapy, but who don’t require long-term treatment.
• People who are addicted develop a physical and psychological reliance on a substance that leads them to go to extreme lengths to continue taking it.

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However, the most recent edition of the DSM no longer creates this distinction. 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. (Substance use disorder, or SUD, is a preferred term in the scientific community.) Because of this lack of consistency, some addiction vs dependence ground rules can help differentiate between the two terms.

• When someone is addicted to a substance, it’s not uncommon for their loved ones to refer to them as having an “addiction” to certain behaviors or describe them as someone that is “dependent” on alcohol or drugs.
• The best approach to prevent substance use is to provide comprehensive education and support at all opportunities.
• Quoting Bob Dole, the Republican nominee, newspaper accounts blame the Clinton administration’s “silence on the matter” for the recent increase in substance abuse among adolescents.
• This meeting of the forum will examine the nature of substance abuse and its impact on the nation.

Differences Between Substance Abuse, Dependence, & Addiction

Your doctor will create a treatment plan for you based on several factors, including the severity of your substance abuse or substance dependence and what the substance is. Your doctor may also ask you what your goals are or if you have any opinions or preferences when it comes to creating a treatment plan. Your society and culture, as well as the laws where you live, also determine how much drug and alcohol use is okay.

Previously, Dr. Kleber served as deputy director for demand reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where he was responsible for that part of the national strategy having to do with reducing the demand for illegal drags. Although men are more likely to smoke, drink, and use drags, women become addicted more quickly and develop diseases related to substance abuse more quickly than men do, according to a recent CASA report, Substance Abuse and the American Woman. A history of sexual abuse seems to be a factor in whether women abuse alcohol, the report noted.

The extent of the impact of substance abuse on U.S. society calls for a review of federal intervention efforts, whether at the level of supply reduction, treatment, or prevention. The purpose of this paper, however, is not to analyze the federal response to substance abuse, but to provide background information for those interested in understanding the scope of the problem. One of the brain areas still maturing during adolescence is the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that allows people to assess situations, make sound decisions, and keep emotions and desires under control. The fact that this critical part of a teen’s brain is still a work in progress puts them at increased risk for trying drugs or continuing to take them.