Dependence vs. Addiction

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agnosticOCD

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I think that there's a big difference between being addicted to something, and being dependent on it. As I see it, addiction is a strong sense of appreciation for something. We don't quit something because we like what it does for us or how it makes us feel, etc, while dependence is when, no matter how much we like or dislike the experience, our body has been tuned to require whatever said "addicting" thing is. Withdrawal symptoms for when someone hasn't been able to get a hold of drugs is an example of physical dependence. The person might not want to take the drug and wants to quit but can't because it causes him/her pain, but when, for example, someone is "addicted" to a certain type of food or whatever else because they want it, they can easily take a break from it without having any real, physically detrimental consequence to their system.



I think that being able to see this difference would be a good way to lessen the unreasonable restrictions and myths towards supposedly "addictive" things and acts such as eating or being an audiophile, and things that may cause obvious harm to the body like hard drugs and overdose on prescription medication. I believe that education, rehab and legalization is better than putting someone in jail for owning or using drugs, and encouraging moderation and decreased frequency of usage until the physical dependence is gone rather than pulling it straight away with consequences to the drug "addict" in question.



Now, this difference is not only confined to drug use. We need to know that though some may think that they have some kind of physical dependence on something, for example sex, it may just be a psychological addiction. Their body can still do without the act of sexual intercourse for a long time, but they want it. There's a difference. Some may find pleasure in watching porn... a lot, and they may want to release their urges through masturbation. Most people have strong enough minds to know that if they're deprived of sex for a while, it's not like anything bad is going to happen, and they are able to realize that acting upon it could cause some serious consequences. I think that part of this is rationalizing, but then again, they do realize that they are not dependent on it, they just really really want it (for obvious reasons).



This is different from when someone is dependent on doing something or taking something into their system and feel actual pain without it. A serious psychological problem is when someone ignores this and acts upon their desire. This is not dependence when this happens, it's just desire overthrowing rationality, but when, for example, a drug abuser is doing something bad that they are unaware of as they are under the influence of a chemical, then I wouldn't be quick to call it addiction because, as I've said, they might be wanting to stop taking whatever is causing them physical dependence and harm.



Addiction is, I think, a generally easier thing to deal with than physical dependence.



There's probably some big issue here that revolves around this difference that I'm, as of yet, too dumb to see, so if anyone would like to discuss, that'd be great.
 

Pearwood

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Katatori's right, just because someone wants to quit something doesn't mean they're not addicted. People have cheapened the word "addiction" by using it to describe really liking chocolate or games or whatever, there's a clear difference between that kind of addiction and a medical addiction. To be addicted you have to be unable to function normally without something.
 

Ragsnstitches

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Katatori has it right, you are stretching the definitions. Dependance is essentially what determines addiction. Whether it's chemical, emotional or psychological an addiction is formed out of dependance.

However, I do not think Dependance = Addiction. It's more Addiction requires dependance (Dependance does not mean addiction, or babies would be born addicted).
 

agnosticOCD

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Sapient Pearwood said:
Katatori's right, just because someone wants to quit something doesn't mean they're not addicted. People have cheapened the word "addiction" by using it to describe really liking chocolate or games or whatever, there's a clear difference between that kind of addiction and a medical addiction. To be addicted you have to be unable to function normally without something.
Well, there you mentioned a kind of addiction ("cheapened" as you said) that equates to preference, and medical addiction being a sign of physical dependence. I'm not asserting much here, in fact I'm inquiring, but then there is a difference between the two. Most people would see something as "addicting" and detrimental in a physical sense when they're not exactly things that would cause withdrawal symptoms like your examples: chocolate and games. It's not like hard drugs that actually cause harm and are more difficult to quit. Like I said, I'm not sure of anything.
 

agnosticOCD

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Ragsnstitches said:
Katatori has it right, you are stretching the definitions. Dependance is essentially what determines addiction. Whether it's chemical, emotional or psychological an addiction is formed out of dependance.

However, I do not think Dependance = Addiction. It's more Addiction requires dependance (Dependance does not mean addiction, or babies would be born addicted).
I see it as the opposite. Being addicted to something, which, in how I've put it, is basically liking something very much to the point of not wanting to quit, causes dependence once you start to realize that you feel pain without that something, even if you now want to stop doing it. I think dependence requires addiction.
 

Terminate421

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Dependence is when you cannot survive with out something
Addiction is when you need something 24/7 but its not important
 

CodeOrange

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I understand you're trying to be philosophical about the topic of dependence in contrast to addiction, but all I can see is you getting context and definition confused with each other.

Just search up a dictionary definition on Google for the two words.
 

Ragsnstitches

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agnosticOCD said:
Ragsnstitches said:
Katatori has it right, you are stretching the definitions. Dependance is essentially what determines addiction. Whether it's chemical, emotional or psychological an addiction is formed out of dependance.

However, I do not think Dependance = Addiction. It's more Addiction requires dependance (Dependance does not mean addiction, or babies would be born addicted).
I see it as the opposite. Being addicted to something, which, in how I've put it, is basically liking something very much to the point of not wanting to quit, causes dependence once you start to realize that you feel pain without that something, even if you now want to stop doing it. I think dependence requires addiction.
Hmm, I can see how you would derive that idea. But that's an issue with your definition of addiction. Addiction has nothing to do with liking something... you can love something and not want to give it up, but not be addicted. However, you can become so utterly dependant to something that the mere idea of giving it up sickens you... this is an addiction.

My sister, for example, smokes (ciggarettes). She knows she is addicted, but when asking her does she think she is dependant she said no. However, her view on dependance is an objective view on necessity. She says she doesn't need smokes so she isn't addicted...

I then asked her, could she go a week without smoking, knowing that she can start again afterwards. She said, with a pause, no. I asked her if she had to choose between buying milk and bread or getting ciggs (but not having enough for both), she said she would likely get the ciggs... she is dependant on ciggs to the point of sacrificing basic necessities.

This doesn't agree with your definition of Addiction. It's not that she likes it so much she doesn't want to give it up. Even with the knowledge that she can smoke some other day, she would rather sacrifice basic needs for them... that is dependance (misplaced or not).
 

Shio

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Terminate421 said:
Addiction is when you need something 24/7 but its not important
Not important? Do you know what happens to alcoholics if they go cold turkey? It's akin to withdrawing from other [illicit] drugs and can result in death. In fact, doctors, psychiatrists and other such therapists rate it as the most difficult and dangerous drug to quit. You know how difficult it is for someone addicted to, say, meth to go through withdrawals, yes? Now imagine that but instead of lasting a day or two, it lasts a week or so, in which time you are on extreme agony and are violently will. And could die.

I'd say that's important.
 

Terminate421

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Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
Addiction is when you need something 24/7 but its not important
Not important? Do you know what happens to alcoholics if they go cold turkey? It's akin to withdrawing from other [illicit] drugs and can result in death. In fact, doctors, psychiatrists and other such therapists rate it as the most difficult and dangerous drug to quit. You know how difficult it is for someone addicted to, say, meth to go through withdrawals, yes? Now imagine that but instead of lasting a day or two, it lasts a week or so, in which time you are on extreme agony and are violently will. And could die.

I'd say that's important.
Ah, but the point of kicking an addiction is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, addicted people can survive without alcohol. Addiction is like a habit that you really want to keep doing but it is survivable.

And before Heroin/Meth/Cocaine addiction is brought up, that stuff replaces your natural dopamine (or is it Serotonin) chemicals so technically its a dependence.
 

intheweeds

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Katatori-kun said:
I think you're redefining terms here. In a clinical sense, addiction = dependence.
Katatori has ended this thread already. Addiction already has a medical definition. You can't argue it in a forum any more than you can argue for a change in the definition of cancer.

You can use it as a metaphor, but the definition is set.
 

Dastardly

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Sapient Pearwood said:
Katatori's right, just because someone wants to quit something doesn't mean they're not addicted. People have cheapened the word "addiction" by using it to describe really liking chocolate or games or whatever, there's a clear difference between that kind of addiction and a medical addiction. To be addicted you have to be unable to function normally without something.
I think too many people ignore the potential for emotional dependence, which can be every bit as intense as physical/chemical dependence--right down to severe withdrawal symptoms. Applying the word "addiction" to things like games doesn't cheapen the word, in and of itself.
 

Shio

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Terminate421 said:
Ah, but the point of kicking an addiction is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, addicted people can survive without alcohol. Addiction is like a habit that you really want to keep doing but it is survivable.
Some people drop dead when they stop taking their drug of choice. I'd say if you're going to become so ill you die from a mixture of system shock, chemical dependency, diarrhea and vomiting, it's "important". How you can say something that one requires to function to the point they keel over in agony for a week and become so sick they can die if they don't continue receiving it is "not important".

Terminate421 said:
And before Heroin/Meth/Cocaine addiction is brought up, that stuff replaces your natural dopamine (or is it Serotonin) chemicals so technically its a dependence.
You're going to rewrite the medical books and tell us no one is addicted to drugs such as tobacco, heroin, meth and alcohol? I see...

Also: heroin doesn't replace any chemical in your body. It contributes to them. Just like every other drug in the world.
 

Mr. 47

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To be physically addicted is to depend on a substance. To be mentally addicted is to believe that you are dependent on a substance. Both varieties result in dependence; any other way the word 'addicted' is applied is incorrect.
 

Pearwood

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Dastardly said:
I think too many people ignore the potential for emotional dependence, which can be every bit as intense as physical/chemical dependence--right down to severe withdrawal symptoms. Applying the word "addiction" to things like games doesn't cheapen the word, in and of itself.
But then you have to compare it to things that aren't physically addictive but are very emotionally addictive as you put it, cannabis for example.
 

Terminate421

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Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
Ah, but the point of kicking an addiction is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, addicted people can survive without alcohol. Addiction is like a habit that you really want to keep doing but it is survivable.
Some people drop dead when they stop taking their drug of choice. I'd say if you're going to become so ill you die from a mixture of system shock, chemical dependency, diarrhea and vomiting, it's "important". How you can say something that one requires to function to the point they keel over in agony for a week and become so sick they can die if they don't continue receiving it is "not important".

Terminate421 said:
And before Heroin/Meth/Cocaine addiction is brought up, that stuff replaces your natural dopamine (or is it Serotonin) chemicals so technically its a dependence.
You're going to rewrite the medical books and tell us no one is addicted to drugs such as tobacco, heroin, meth and alcohol? I see...

Also: heroin doesn't replace any chemical in your body. It contributes to them. Just like every other drug in the world.
Great...I get attacked for my definition. Look, that was my two definitions for the words and how I see it. As far as I know, people haven't died Solely due to withdrawal symptoms, though I am sure that some people may have at some point.

My definition of an addiction is that if poeple didn't 'need' it to live, and yet the want that shit so badly, then it is an addiction.
A dependence is when one needs it to 'live', essentially.

As for the drugs, NO I am not rewriting the medical books for that. I had to take psychology (Does this make me politically correct? No. Right to an intelligent debate of opinon? Yes.) and what I've learned is that those drugs I mentioned do in fact replace a specific chemical in the brain. By doing so, the brain stops producing its own natural form of the chemical. So now, the person must take the drug in order to keep 'normal' levels of the chemical. Otherwise they suffer withdrawal symptoms.