If someone you love has a substance abuse disorder, you might hear the terms dependence and addiction a lot. Yet, do you have a clear understanding of the relationship between the two? What is drug dependence, and what is drug addiction? How are these two things different? Pines Recovery Life Detox can guide individuals through how dependence and addiction develop, impact people, and be treated.
What Is Drug Dependence?
Drug dependence means physical and psychological dependence on a substance like alcohol or heroin. Symptoms involving tolerance and withdrawal characterize dependence. These symptoms could include using more of a drug to get the same effect and getting physical withdrawal symptoms.
Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Muscle cramps
These are physical reactions produced as the body tries to rebalance without the chemical substance. That dependence on the drug triggers these reactions.
What Is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction is compulsive drug use. Addiction is a term that can apply to many things, including video game use, sex, and even exercise.
It means using the drug or doing an activity becomes a top priority over anything else. That would include going to work or school, paying bills, and socializing with friends. Some people will put drug use above physical health and avoiding health consequences.
They may develop the addiction because of physical dependence on a substance, too. Their desire to continue to use the drug can be to avoid going through withdrawal.
What Is the Difference Between Addiction and Dependence?
One person can experience both addiction and dependence at the same time. It is also possible to be dependent on a drug without being addicted to it or vice versa. That is one reason it is so difficult to separate the two conditions.
Dependence usually leads to addiction. Someone with an addiction doesn’t necessarily get dependent, though.
The confusion between these two concepts has led some experts to abandon labels like dependence and addiction in favor of a more blanket definition of substance use disorder.
What Is Substance Use Disorder?
Substance use disorder is a clinical term to define both drug addiction and dependence. It is the uncontrolled use of a substance despite potentially harmful consequences. In addition, that use may relate to a dependence on a drug or addiction.
Substance use disorder is sometimes defined tightly with terms such as alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder. A person with a substance use disorder may be addicted, dependent, or both.
How To Treat Dependence and Addiction
Treatment usually begins in a detox center like Pines Recovery Life Detox. Pines Recovery Life Detox, located in South Florida, provides medical and mental health care for those going through detox.
Detox starts when the use of a substance ends. During this time, the body must adjust to life without the drug. Unfortunately, that can trigger uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects.
Detox is about getting the support that improves a person’s chance of recovery. Many primary drug and alcohol treatment programs will require detox before someone enters to ensure complete sobriety.
Discover How Pines Recovery Life Detox Can Help
Pines Recovery Life Detox is a medical detox center. The staff can provide medical support to ease and speed up withdrawal. At the same time, patients go to therapy that helps them find coping mechanisms and change behavior. Services at Pines Recovery Life Detox include:
- Residential care — Pines Recovery Life Detox is a live-in program
- Dual diagnosis treatment — Treatment for those with underlying mental health conditions such as depression.
- Behavioral therapy — Uses behavior modification techniques such as cognitive-behavior therapy.
- Group therapy — A chance to talk with peers about common issues.
If you think someone you love has dependence or addiction, detox is the place to start. Give us a call at 800.263.3869 or go online and fill out our contact form to learn more at the premier drug detox in Florida — Pines Recovery Life Detox.
