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.
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.