What is the difference between addiction and dependence to a drug or drugs?

1. Dependence on a drug means the user experiences improved function through the action of the medication, whether real or imagined.
2. In the case of addiction, the use of the drug IS the problem, regardless of whether the drug use began for legitimate reasons or not.

When dependence on a medication occurs it may be either a physical dependence or a psychological/emotional dependence. It can also be a combination of both of these.

Drugs that cause physical dependence include: 

    * nicotine

    * opioids

    * barbiturates

    * benzodiazepines

    * ethyl alcohol (alcoholic beverage)

    * methaqualone (Quaalude)

    * amphetamines

    * caffeine

    * cocaine

    * anticonvulsants/mood stabilizers

    * antipsychotics

    * antidepressants

All of these drugs can cause psychological dependence as well.

The purpose of taking the drug is of importance. Persons dependent on medications for pain may sometimes hoard pills and show anxiety when the supply begins to dwindle. But this is not necessarily a sign of abuse or addiction. Pain can be very real and definitely limit the sufferer’s ability to function or even think. In this case, the management of that pain is worth jumping through a few hoops.

When healing occurs and the cause of the physical pain is lessened, the use of the drug should recede too and, although there may be some physical withdrawal discomforts, there isn’t a burning desire to continue the drug use.

If the user does continue to use the drug in spite of diminished legitimate need with regard to pain, now we’re talking about abuse and psychological or emotional addiction.

When a physical dependence moves into the realm of psychological addiction, some of these symptoms will be apparent:

• Risk taking
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop the use of the drug(s)
• Escapism, feeling much more socially comfortable when using the drug
• Dosing for the feel rather than the therapeutic effects
• Dependence on mood-changing attributes of the drug
• Lying about the drugs or quantities used
• Seeking the drug more and more, visiting additional doctors to gain more prescriptions