Are you aware that around 21 million people struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction in America?
Addiction is a common disease. It’s important for everyone to take the time to learn more about it so they can support any loved ones who may be struggling. One of the biggest challenges is figuring out when recreational use has turned into an addiction.
Have you been curious about the terms drug addiction vs dependence? Keep reading out drug dependence guide so you can understand the full picture.
What Is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction is when your body has developed a need for a specific substance to feel at ease. A common misconception is that people who are struggling with addiction lack willpower, but the truth is that their bodies will develop strong, unpleasant side effects if the drug has been out of their system long enough. Despite knowing how harmful the drug they’re taking is, they can’t stop.
There are other severe consequences of addiction. People often lose their jobs because their addiction makes it difficult to maintain a reliable schedule. They can also push away their loved ones since they don’t want to be embarrassed about their addiction.
What Is Drug Dependence?
The easiest way to look at drug dependence is the step right before addiction. Since many professionals use addiction and dependence interchangeably and have their own unique definitions, it’s hard to get a concrete consensus. People who have an addiction also have a dependence, but people who have a dependence may not be addicted yet.
Drug dependence focuses on the physical effects of taking a drug while addiction looks at the physical, mental, and behavioral changes. For example, people who drink a lot of coffee may have a caffeine dependency if they experience chronic headaches, jitters, and fatigue if they don’t drink enough. However, their dependency isn’t severe enough to make them lose their job or relationships.
Can Drug Dependence Turn Into Drug Addiction?
As mentioned before, it’s possible to have a drug dependency without an addiction, but the slope is slippery. If someone realizes that their body is developing withdrawal symptoms, then they have the opportunity to seek help before harsher side effects occur.
Without guidance, someone with a drug dependency can develop a full addiction that wreaks havoc on all aspects of their life.
How Do You Seek Help?
There’s no shame in seeking professional help whether you think you may have a dependency or addiction. Rehab facilities will be able to help you get through those uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. They’ll also give you other resources that can help you achieve long-term sobriety.
It’s worth learning about addiction recovery for Native Americans if you want to get specialized treatment.
Drug Addiction Vs Dependence: Now You Know the Facts
There’s a lot to unpack in the drug addiction vs dependence debate. At the end of the day, getting help for any substance abuse issues is the key to happiness and wellness.
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