Dependence vs. Addiction

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Terminate421

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Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
I'm sorry, you lost when you stated drug addiction doesn't exist.
When did I say that? (Quoting one word from my comment doesn't make things clearer, I thought this thread was about the difference between words, not the medical definitions)
I never specifically said it doesn't exist, my definitions between them are just different than yours. I've said how I feel and that's that.

Addiction is when one desires something badly but can survive without it.
Dependence is when one needs it to survive.
 

Shio

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Terminate421 said:
Dependence is when one needs it to survive.
Dependence is when you need it to survive? I see. And where do you get that definition from? Just something you've cobbled together over the years? I'd say I'm pretty dependent on my antidepressants despite them not keeping me alive directly.

Terminate421 said:
When did I say that?
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.
Or are you going to backflip and suggest drugs are both an addiction and a dependency, despite your fervent and numerous assertions the two are separate and carry different definitions?

You're backpedaling all over the shop and tripping over your own definitions. Maybe you aren't even sure what you think?
 

agnosticOCD

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Terminate421 said:
Addiction is when one desires something badly but can survive without it.
Dependence is when one needs it to survive.
See? There's the difference. It's that simple...
 

Terminate421

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Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
Dependence is when one needs it to survive.
Dependence is when you need it to survive? I see. And where do you get that definition from? Just something you've cobbled together over the years? I'd say I'm pretty dependent on my antidepressants despite them not keeping me alive directly.

Terminate421 said:
When did I say that?
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.
Or are you going to backflip and suggest drugs are both an addiction and a dependency, despite your fervent and numerous assertions the two are separate and carry different definitions?

You're backpedaling all over the shop and tripping over your own definitions. Maybe you aren't even sure what you think?
By God. There is no hope!

Look, this is from MY Experience and MY point of view. From the few drug addicted people I have come across this is what I've decided to do for MY definition. If its not part of the medical dictionary, fine. But it isn't necessary to attack me for my view. Those were my definitions for how the words can be used towards a drug addict and that is that.

As far as your anti-deppresants are concerned, I don't believe you are dependent or addicted to either (At least from what I can tell on the few words mentioned here)

I say my view and I get attacked, I'm done with this thread now.
 

Terminate421

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agnosticOCD said:
Terminate421 said:
Addiction is when one desires something badly but can survive without it.
Dependence is when one needs it to survive.
See? There's the difference. It's that simple...
Thank you! Someone sees my point precisely.
The difference between definitions is how it affects ones ability to live.
 

agnosticOCD

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Well, since my schedule's tied up tomorrow and I got to have a similar talk on a different place where I also posted this topic, I'd say I'll just wait and see where you people go from here... Like I said, there's a lot I don't know, but I do believe there's a difference, so I'm hoping to learn something from you guys about this too, aside from the other places. I'll read all this in the morning.
 

Shio

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Terminate421 said:
One cannot expect to voice an opinion (especially one so ill-defined by themselves and one they go on to contradict) and have it go unchallenged.
 

agnosticOCD

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Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
One cannot expect to voice an opinion (especially one so ill-defined by themselves and one they go on to contradict) and have it go unchallenged.
So... what's that got to do with drugs, alcohol, withdrawal vs a bit of a break, people in rehab, porn, and misplaced use of law enforcement?
 

Shio

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agnosticOCD said:
Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
One cannot expect to voice an opinion (especially one so ill-defined by themselves and one they go on to contradict) and have it go unchallenged.
So... what's that got to do with drugs, alcohol, withdrawal vs a bit of a break, people in rehab, porn, and misplaced use of law enforcement?
If I had any idea what you are trying to ask, I would respond.
 

agnosticOCD

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Shio said:
agnosticOCD said:
Shio said:
Terminate421 said:
One cannot expect to voice an opinion (especially one so ill-defined by themselves and one they go on to contradict) and have it go unchallenged.
So... what's that got to do with drugs, alcohol, withdrawal vs a bit of a break, people in rehab, porn, and misplaced use of law enforcement?
If I had any idea what you are trying to ask, I would respond.
(Good luck.)
You would if you'd read my original post instead of merely attacking someone else.

Like here...

"Dependence is when you need it to survive? I see. And where do you get that definition from? Just something you've cobbled together over the years? I'd say I'm pretty dependent on my antidepressants despite them not keeping me alive directly."

Yes... you seem dependent on your antidepressants even though they don't keep you alive directly. It's a need, which, if not satiated, would cause some physical harm. So no matter what scale, that's dependence. Now, I do think that saying dependence is when something is required for survival would be a stretch. That's not always the case, but if there is a need for something that would cause consequences on the individual if not taken care of, then there's dependence, not addiction.

And here...

"Or are you going to backflip and suggest drugs are both an addiction and a dependency, despite your fervent and numerous assertions the two are separate and carry different definitions?"

I stated in an earlier post that these terms are separate and carry definitions, and that addiction leads to dependence. Drugs make you feel something that replaces a bad feeling. You like it. You don't want to stop it. You've only just started so it's not harming your system that much... yet. That's addiction. Once you feel some kind of hunger for it, and it starts to hurt when you can't get a sniff, whether or not it still makes you feel happy, that's dependence. You don't want it anymore, but you now find yourself needing it after it's been in your system for a long time.

So yes, they're different. Drugs aren't an addiction and/or dependency. They're chemicals. What we do with them and how it affects us is when you should say that someone is either just addicted to it's charm, or begins need it despite it not actually helping make their days better.

I dunno. I just wish that people didn't have to be so annoying when they disagree with each other.
 

agnosticOCD

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Off-topic rant:

It's always "this is how it is" or "you're a moron for that point."
Nobody ever says "I think it's this way" or "I think this is how it works."

Key phrase there, people: "I think..."

And some even pretend like everyone agrees with them and use phrases like "how the rest of us does it."

And I haven't even seen ANY of you post a link to a reliable source. I was just speaking what I thought, open for correction and clarification while the rest of you regurgitate ad hominems and petty insults. Sure, the valid points are there, but the drama is sickeningly unavoidable.

It tires me to have to see people say their own statements without ever thinking that they're not automatically right just because someone else agrees with them or because someone's thoughts are different.

Okay. Rant over. Still open for whoever might have something to contribute.
 

agnosticOCD

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666Chaos said:
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.
Im pretty sure that not all those guys out there sucking dick for crack enjoy it all that much. They are addicted to it and are willing to do anything to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms. They dont want it but they feel that they need it.
Addicted, as I said, means they want it. If they DON'T want it, but due to withdrawal symptoms, NEED it, then that's what I would call dependence.
 

agnosticOCD

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Shio said:
agnosticOCD said:
I don't think you understand the concept of debate.
Never did, never wanted to. I've always found it easier to just spread around ideas informally, with responses that don't agree being, at the very least, funny instead of angry. I post on forums to talk, not to scream at one another, pretending to understand everything the opposing side thinks. I'm just a sociology student fuckup. I try to study people, I don't have to be uptight and go on irrelevant formal drama about it.
 

Shio

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agnosticOCD said:
Shio said:
agnosticOCD said:
I don't think you understand the concept of debate.
Never did, never wanted to. I've always found it easier to just spread around ideas informally, with responses that don't agree being, at the very least, funny instead of angry. I post on forums to talk, not to scream at one another, pretending to understand everything the opposing side thinks. I'm just a sociology student fuckup. I try to study people, I don't have to be uptight and go on irrelevant formal drama about it.
Cancel that. It seems you don't understand what debate actually means, as nothing you suggested is by default part of debate.
 

Thespian

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Actually, I think volition does somewhat define the terms, but in a different way.
For example, if you are addicted, you will not want to stop. You are addicted to it - Hence it's psychological and not just chemical, so in other words you are emotionally addicted to it. You are convinced that it is best for you to keep doing whatever the substance or practice in question is.

However, if you want to stop but cannot because of how harmful it is, that is Dependence. Your body needs it to go on, physically.
 

agnosticOCD

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Thespian said:
Actually, I think volition does somewhat define the terms, but in a different way.
For example, if you are addicted, you will not want to stop. You are addicted to it - Hence it's psychological and not just chemical, so in other words you are emotionally addicted to it. You are convinced that it is best for you to keep doing whatever the substance or practice in question is.

However, if you want to stop but cannot because of how harmful it is, that is Dependence. Your body needs it to go on, physically.
Any questions?