Addiction and Dependence: Is There a Difference?
What Is Addiction?
Addiction refers to the repetition of behavior or patterns despite adverse consequences. Addiction can take many forms, whether it be alcohol addiction, prescription drug addiction, illicit drug addiction, or behavior addictions, including eating disorders, porn addiction, or gambling addiction. People struggling with drugs, alcohol, or behavioral addiction may not know their addictive behaviors and patterns. Some individuals may be in denial of their active addiction. In contrast, others may be aware that they are struggling with addiction but cannot seek treatment for themselves for several reasons. Addiction is considered a disease that impacts a person’s brain functioning, leading to abnormal behaviors and emotions. Drug and alcohol addiction can be cured with the support of addiction treatment therapies.
What Is Dependence?
When you hear the term dependence, it refers to a physical dependence developed into a substance. The progression and continuation of substance abuse will create a physiological dependence that causes your body and brain to rely on drugs and alcohol to function throughout each day.
When a person who has become dependent on drugs and alcohol attempts to quit drugs and alcohol, they will experience significant side effects known as withdrawal symptoms. This process occurs when your body tries to find ways to function without using drugs and alcohol, causing unpleasant and sometimes painful side effects. As your physical dependence on drugs and alcohol worsens, you will develop a tolerance to drugs and alcohol that will cause you to have to use more to reach the same desired effect. This often creates the never-ending cycle of substance abuse as the individual begins chasing the original feeling that occurred when they first started using substances.
Physical dependence can develop on substances other than drugs and alcohol, and individuals can become physically dependent on substances such as caffeine, sugar, or tobacco. Physical dependence can be managed but will often require medical detox support for those looking to quit their use of drugs and alcohol.
Recognizing the Difference
The difference between substance dependencies and alcohol or drug addiction is based on the body and mind. A substance dependency will change the physiological responses in your body and ultimately impact your day-to-day functioning. In comparison, an addiction to drugs and alcohol will affect your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. An addiction to drugs and alcohol is often developed from a history of emotional distress or traumas that have impacted how you interact with the world around you. To address an alcohol or drug addiction, it is vital to support evidence-based treatment therapies to help you get to the root causes of your substance abuse while developing the tools for living in addiction recovery.
How Do I Know If I Have an Addiction?
Although each person living with substance use disorders will experience varying effects and consequences from your alcohol or drug addiction, there are some common signs of addiction that you can be mindful of that will indicate that it is time to address your substance abuse within an addiction treatment program. These include:
- A desire to stop using drugs and alcohol but have failed attempts at doing so
- Continued substance abuse even after experiencing negative life consequences
- Losing interest in hobbies or activities that you once enjoyed
- Stealing or borrowing money to fund your substance abuse habits
- Needing to increase the amount you take to reach the same desired effects
- The majority of your time is focused on your substance abuse
- Change in physical appearance
- Isolating or becoming distant from loved ones
- Experiencing a decrease in performance at school or work
- Relationships become impacted by your drug and alcohol abuse
Get Help Now at Novo Detox
At Novo Detox, we offer patients a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment that is focused on supporting them to overcome their physical dependence on drugs and alcohol within our medical detox program. Our team of medical professionals is trained in the best drug and alcohol detox practices to keep you feeling comfortable and maintain your safety.
After completing drug and alcohol detox, you will be invited to participate in an inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab program. You can engage in various addiction therapy methods that will support you in healing from your underlying causes of drug or alcohol addiction while gaining the life skills for a newfound life in addiction recovery. Contact Novo Detox at (844) 834-1777 today to hear more about the detox and rehab programs offered within our rehab facility and put yourself on the road to recovery today.
